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SANDY CEASED FIRING ONLY BECAUSE HIS MAGAZINE 
TURNED UP EMPTY. 

(Page 59.) 



YOUNG VOYAGERS OE 
THE NILE 


OR 

THE CHSSC FOR THE EUOITIVC DAHSBEAH 


8t* George Ratbbome 

AUTHOR OF 

“adrift on a junk,” “young castaways,” 
“down the amazon,” etc. 


) 

ILLUSTRATED > V' 

) i > 

BY 

B. 30. Sbute 


AKRON, OHIO 

THE SAALEIELD PUBLISHING CO. 

1905 


NEW YORK 


CHICAGO 



fv/o Uopias 

SfeP 29 i9Ut> 

^ ;5ouyn«nt 

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f ^7 ^ 4 a. 

copy 4i» 


COPYRIGHT, 1905, 

BY 

The Saalfield Publishing Company 











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CONTENTS 


CHAPTER. 



PAGE. 

1. 

The Lone Cruiser 

, 


. 7 

IL 

Hands Across the Sea 



. i8 

III. 

The Lion’s Whelps tliat Knew 

not Fear . 

. 30 

IV. 

Giving the Dervishes the Slip 

. 


. 42 

V. 

Sandy Tries for Big Game 



. 53 

VI. 

The Battle of the Nile 

. 


. 64 

VII. 

A Nice Prospect Ahead 

. 


. 76 

VIII. 

At the Setting of the Morning 

Star 


. 87 

- IX. 

When Rogues Fall Out 

. 


. 99 

X. 

Game Ahead 

, 


. 109 

XL 

Still-Hunting 

. 


. 120 

XII. 

A Prize in Great Demand 



. 131 

XIII. 

Sandy’s Dream Becomes a Reality 


. 141 

XIV. 

The Cook Wins Great Glory 



. 152 

XV. 

The Wonderful Story Achmet Told 


. 163 

XVI. 

Uncle Theodore’s Fate Revealed 


. 174 

XVII. 

Back to the Field of Battle 

. 


. 18S 

XVIII. 

The Modern Jonah . 

. 


. 195 


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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

“Sandy ceased firing only because his magazine turned 

up empty” ...... Frontispiece 

“He threw his gun up to his shoulder” ... 50 

“The kettle tilted up and there arose a frightful shriek” . 100 

“Jiminy! What a whopper!” 150 



CHAPTER L 

THE LONE CEUISEE. 

It was on one of the loneliest reaches of the 
Upper Nile ; the sun was sinking ont of sight be- 
hind the western desert, and strange sounds be- 
gan to awaken that were well calculated to keep 
the nerves of an anxious pilgrim on edge. 

A small boat glided down stream with the 
ever-moving current of the river. Since the 
fickle breeze had died out, the little dull-colored 
sail hung limp and useless from the mast, which 
in itself was a make-shift affair, easily un- 
stepped and stowed away. 

A single person seemed to occupy this lone ' 
craft, and such was the generous layer of tan 
which had been wrought by the fierce Egyptian 
sun, together with the blistering sirocco winds 
that came off the sandy desert, that the youth 


7 


8 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


might have readily passed for an Arab, save 
that his garments bespoke some acquaintance 
with civilization. The boyish face was nnnsnally 
keen and determined, as became one who all his 
life had known what it was to rely wholly upon 
himself for everything in the way of favors; 
while the blue eyes would have impressed an ob- 
server favorably, as full of grit and resolution, 
far beyond the average. 

Indeed, Lawrence Kennedy was no ordinary 
lad, as was proved by his presence here in this 
Lotus Land of Mystery, calmly floating down 
the upper reaches of the Nile, when old Khar- 
toum had but recently fallen once more into 
English hands, and the defeated but not sub- 
dued dervishes still scoured the sizzling desert, 
seeking desperate chances to surprise and over- 
whelm any small roving detachments of General 
Kitchener’s allied forces. 

To Larry the hoarse croak of the night-heron 
was only music, nor did he feel the least thrill 
of alarm when the mocking laugh of the hyena, 
or the more snappy bark of the prowling jackal. 


OF THE NILE. 


9 


came borne to his ears from the darkening 
shore. These things had become very familiar 
to him during his weary trip from Cairo far up 
the great river to where the soldiers of the 
Queen held the former headquarters of the 
Mahdi— and he knew full well that, so long as 
he could hear such sounds, there was little 
chance of those human enemies, whom he feared 
far more, being close by. 

Though his presence here had been brought 
about through a strange freak of fate, allied 
with the boasting propensities in which rich 
Americans are apt to indulge when far from 
home, to Larry it presented the one great 
and glorious opportunity of his whole life to 
grasp that which he valued so much more, be- 
cause it had always seemed beyond his reach— 
an education. 

All day he had been sweeping along with the 
rolling tide that was headed for the far distant 
Mediterranean. Occasionally he found a tem- 
porary use for his little sail, but as a usual 


10 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


thing the breeze, when it did blow, came up the 
river, and was contrary. 

It had been his habit whenever possible to 
land after darkness had set in and thus secure 
a camping spot for the night, since his boat be- 
ing so small afforded scant accommodations for 
comfort in this line. So that as the day began 
to fade, Larry was casting curious as well as 
eager glances ahead, in the hope of locating 
some such promising locality where he could 
haul up until morning came. 

It was a very monotonous scene that met his 
eye. In every quarter sand, with a few clumps 
of trees. Now and then he had discovered a line 
of camels moving along the shore, since all the 
merchandise that entered the desert had to be 
carried upon the backs of these long-legged 
quadrupeds. It had been his habit to immedi- 
ately put across the river on sighting such a 
caravan, since he had been warned by the genial 
British officers at the captured stronghold of the 
Mahdi to beware of trusting any one he met. 

To the Arabs connected with these trains of 


OF THE NILE. 


11 


heavily laden ships of the desert’’ the sight of 
this lone pilgrim was astonishing. They never 
failed to shout across the river, and wave their 
arms above their heads as though inviting him 
to come closer and give some sort of an explana- 
tion of his presence. Once or twice they had 
shot at the voyager, happily without any serious 
result; but this convinced Larry that his best 
plan was to avoid contact with such rude fel- 
lows, who might, once he was in their power, 
conclude that he would make an acceptable slave 
for some sheik far off in the wide Soudan, whose 
favor they courted. 

How different this to the Lower Nile, with its 
cultivated fields, irrigated with water taken 
from the river— instead of the sound of the busy 
shadoof lifting the precious waters all day long, 
or the squeak of the sakiyeh wheel doing the 
same duty, Larry only heard an occasional 
hoarse cry from some wheeling vulture, or 
caught the significant cry of the prowling jackal 
or hyena, that eyed him furtively, then, perhaps, 
ran along the shore some distance in the hope 


12 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


of a nearer acquaintance. Frequently he had 
been tempted beyond the power of resistance, 
and had taken a shot at the mangy beasts, leav- 
ing more than one of them in a heap, and satis- 
fying himself that he knew how to handle the 
firearms with which he appeared to be plenti- 
fully supplied. 

The night was coming down, sweeping upon 
him out of the desert. Soon the big stars would 
be shining aloft, a welcome change from the hot 
sun that had for long hours done its best to bake 
the lad. 

It was time for him to head across the river 
now, and take his chances of making a landing 
somewhere. 

Before he started he took a last survey of the 
shore he was about to leave. To his surprise he 
discovered a light some little distance down 
the river. It gave him a strange thrill, for on 
all his cruise this was really the very first time 
he had made such a discovery. True, the cara- 
vans that follow the course of the Nile during a 
certain portion of their journey into the vast in- 


OF THE NILE. 


13 


terior of Darkest Africa make halts for rest and 
refreshment, hut this is nsnally done during the 
heat of the day, when man and beast need re- 
cuperation— the cool of the night is often util- 
ized for making forward progress. 

His curiosity being aroused, Larry made up 
his mind to allow his craft to float down stream 
until opposite the light, when he could determine 
whether it were policy to land, or shun the vicin- 
ity, as would he the case should he discover the 
dark-skinned figures of the desperate dervishes 
there. Yet a faint hope crept into his mind that 
possibly he might' have run across the camp of 
some band of roving British scouts; and the 
prospect of spending even a single night in 
social company gave him a yearning he had not 
known before. 

Now he was rapidly bearing down upon the 
spot, and he sought to determine whether those 
who might be discovered were friends or foes. 
Only two hours back he had caught various 
glimpses of a band of rapidly moving figures 
far in the distance— the declining sun had 


14 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


glinted from the burnished barrels of long guns 
and spear heads, telling him, even if the sight of 
their flowing robes and gaily decorated gar- 
ments had failed to do so, that they were follow- 
ers of the Prophet, scouring the desert for vic- 
tims. He had crouched low in his little craft, 
stowing the mast so that it might not attract the 
attention of these keen-sighted rovers ; and 
breathed a sigh of relief when the rushing cur- 
rent carried him beyond their range of vision. 
They were in his mind now, as he scrutinized 
that little blaze upon the west bank of the river, 
plainly intended for a campfire by whoever was 
responsible for its presence. 

Expecting to discover a host of moving fig- 
ures, Larry was puzzled when his straining eyes 
failed to see more than one near the meager 
fire. And from surprise he leaped to amaze- 
ment, when he saw that this person undoubtedly 
wore the garments of civilization; yes, with a 
vengeance, since his plaid suit was loud enough 
in its pattern to have betrayed him as far as 
mortal vision could reach. 


OP THE NILE. 


15 


Larry was no longer bent upon making a 
hasty retreat. Instead, a glow of warm interest 
began to pass through his frame, for he had dis- 
covered once more to his surprise that appar- 
ently this single occupant of the camp on the 
shore of the great Nile was a lad like unto him- 
self. 

Dipping his paddle he began to throw all his 
energy into his strokes, intending to push in to 
the shore before the greedy current had dragged 
him beyond. Nor was he at all careful about 
what manner of "splashing he might make, since 
it was a foregone conclusion that the other must 
prove a friend. 

It was not long before the sound of his stead- 
ily working paddle came to the ears of the one 
ashore, for he jumped to his feet, and snatched 
something from the ground, which Larry could 
guess must be a weapon of some pattern, since 
none but a madman would venture into these re- 
gions unarmed. 

It was time, Larry thought, to sing out and 
proclaim his friendliness, ere the unknown 


16 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


camper take a shot at him while on the move. 

^‘Hi, there, hold np! I want to come ashore 
and make yonr acquaintance. No Arab, no Der- 
vish, only a single lone cruiser, feeling mighty 
glad to see a fellow of his own kind. Shall I pull 
inU’ he called, hastily. 

The other showed signs of tremendous pleas- 
ure, and waved his arms above his head as if to 
emphasize his words. 

^^Yes, yes, pull in right away. Awful glad to 
see you— was afraid I’d have to stay alone to- 
night in this beastly country— plenty of water 
right here— let me give you a hand,” and reach- 
ing out he eagerly took hold of the boat’s stem, 
the better to drag it ashore. 

Larry knew immediately the other must be 
an English lad, for there was that in the accent 
of his words to betray the fact— doubtless his 
own manner of speech would as quickly betray 
his being an American, since he continually used 
Yankee idioms that were foreign to British 
ears. It did not matter in the least— for the 
time being they were only brothers in misfor- 


OF THE NH^E. 17 

tune, fellow pilgrims in this strange land of the 
Pharaohs ; and as Larry jumped out of his boat 
he gripped the outstretched hand of the other 
just as heartily as his own digits were squeezed. 
2 


CHAPTER IL 


HANDS ACKOSS THE SEA. 

The two boys surveyed one another by the 
dim light of that little fire, fashioned from a 
handful of material picked up along the way. 
Larry saw a homely but honest face, upon which 
a gleam of merriment seemed to struggle almost 
perpetually. As his eyes took in the gorgeous 
outfit of the other, he immediately made up his 
mind that he had run across one who was truly 
a character, possessed of ample means to carry 
out any peculiar freak that might happen to take 
hold of his mind. 

Involuntarily he glanced up and down the 
shore as if in search of the boat, by means of 
which this dude tourist might have reached his 
present location; but he discovered nothing 
Then, still more surprised, he allowed his eyes 

i8 


OF THE NH^E. 


19 


to roam around the immediate vicinity, surely 
expecting to see the humped hacks of several 
camels loom up near by; but, as with the boat, 
so it seemed to he with the four-legged ships of 
the desert; both were conspicuous by their ab- 
sence. This struck Larry as so astonishing that 
he could only reach one conclusion. 

‘‘Lost, by ginger!” he exclaimed. 

“Meaning me, I suppose,” laughed the other 
good naturedly; “but that’s where you make a 
big mistake. It’s the miserable dahaheah that’s 
gone and got lost— I know where I am, all right, 
you see.” 

This, set them both laughing again. Larry 
felt as though somehow a tremendous load had 
dropped from his shoulders— just the sound of 
a fellow human’s voice gave him good cheer, he 
was so weary of the eternal solitude, and the 
strain of eternal vigilance was beginning to wear 
upon his nerves. 

“My name’s Larry Kennedy, and I’m an 
American,” he said, simply. 

“I’d have guessed that easily enough. In me 


20 


YOUNO VOYAGERS 


behold one of whom they took a cruel advantage 
when I was too young to object— yes, they 
named me Lysander Pericles Jones, though the 
boys at school shortened it to plain Sandy.’’ 

“Glad to know you under any name. I was 
just wishing mighty hard that I’d run across 
some stray band of scouts in camp, when I 
sighted your little blaze. By the way, excuse 
me, but this is all wrong, and if you’ll permit 
me, why — ’ ’ and as he spoke Larry scattered the 
few brands with his foot, so that the fire was 
immediately a thing of the past. 

“You think it dangerous to have even that bit 
of a blaze!— I took a survey just before dark set 
in and could see no sign of anything moving,” 
said the other, anxiously. 

“I happened to see a band of dervishes not 
two hours back, and heading in this direction, 
too. They have keen eyes you bet; they may 
have discovered even your little torch before 
this. If so they will be down on us before long. ’ ’ 
“That’s a pleasant outlook. I say, what would 


OF THE NILE. 


21 


you advise? No doubt you know much better 
than I do what should be done.’^ 

Larry was of course complimented by this 
show of confidence. At the same time his curios- 
ity concerning the other had reached fever heat ; 
he was desirous of learning without much more 
delay what queer freak had tempted this green- 
horn sportsman to so perilous a locality. Surely 
there were dozens of places in Asia and Africa, 
where he could have gone in with a retinue of 
carriers, and found all the shooting he wished, 
without coming to this land of the Mahdi, where 
the spiteful crack of the Martini rifle was gener- 
ally accompanied by the wild shouts of the 
fanatical dervishes charging a hollow British 
square. 

tell you what is the safest plan— tumble 
into my boat with what few traps you may hap- 
pen to have here, and we’ll make the opposite 
side of the old river, where we can laugh at those 
fellows if they chance to swoop down on this 
spot,” said the lone cruiser, earnestly. 

‘^Done! And many thanks to you, Larry 


22 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


Kennedy! Say, I’m real glad chance threw us 
together. That’s all I’ve got here with me, be- 
cause, you see, it never occurred to me the daha- 
beah would take a notion to run away while I 
was on shore stalking crocodiles. ’ ’ 

Larry was satisfied to get away from the dan- 
gerous shore before trouble descended upon 
them. He dipped his paddle deeply, while the 
other watched his movements with interest. 

‘‘You do that as if you knew how, I must say,” 
he remarked. 

“Speak lower, please— sounds carry on the 
water like all possessed, though I don’t think 
we need worry about those chaps any longer. 
Well, you see, I lived up in Maine for some 
years, and every fellow there learns all about 
how to paddle a boat and such things. But 
won’t the others be anxious about you— I don’t 
understand why they haven’t forced the captain 
of the boat to turn back and look you up ? ” 
“That’s it— you see, there just aren’t others 
at all— besides that villainous old Achmet, who 
ought to be put in the stocks they call the koor- 


OF THE NILE. 


23 


hash, and his piratical crew, I was the only one 
on board the sumptuous Queen of the Waters. 
And now theyVe given me the slip,^^ said 
Sandy, with a groan that was either simulated 
or genuine, Larry knew not which. 

“Then you must have hired the dahdbedh for 
your own use?’^ he ventured, as if hoping thus 
to draw the other out. 

Sandy was not averse to telling everything 
about himself— he seemed of a very confiding 
nature indeed, though possibly he too had 
grown weary of only the uncongenial company 
of Arabs. 

“Yes, I hired it all right, and up to now Vve 
had a glorious holiday, though to be sure the 
crew tried to mutiny a few times, saying that it 
was a bit of foolishness to proceed any further, 
and that we were only poking our heads into the 
lion^s mouth, with these frisky riders of the 
Mahdi scouring the land in search of just such 
innocents. ^ ^ 

“I see ! ThaFs how they came to leave you in 
the lurch finally, the cowards ! But you haven T 


24 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


told me what sort of business brought you away 
up here. Now you’ll understand that I don’t 
want to be too curious, but it’s a mighty queer 
thing to run across a chap of your kind in this 
part of the country. You won’t be huffed at my 
curiosity, will you, Sandy U’ 

^‘Me huffed? Why, you couldn’t get me mad 
if you tried— I’m the most accommodating fel- 
low you ever ran across; only, I’ve taken a vow 
to pay that old faker Achmet back, in his own 
coin if I ever get the chance. 

‘‘I can explain it all in mighty quick order, 
only of course you’ll be surprised at what I 
say— they all are. Now, you see, I’ve always 
had an idea I was cut out for a war-correspon- 
dent. None of the papers would give me any 
encouragement, so I just packed my kit, came 
out to Cairo, hired a dahabeah, got a tow up to 
the First Cataract— and here I am, stranded in 
the wilderness just because those cowardly apes 
chose to cut and run. ’ ’ 

‘‘I don’t see anything to laugh at in that. I 
give you credit, Sandy, for a good bit of pluck. 


OF THE NILE. 


25 


though. I know as well as the next one, how next 
to impossible it would he for you to reach Kitch- 
ener’s camp, because I come from there now,” 
said Larry, quietly. 

“See here, are you in it too?” demanded the 
other, quickly. 

“You mean writing up this business for the 
papers? Not a hit of it. My business here is of 
an entirely different kind. ’ ’ 

“Bully! Then it’s all right— you can give 
me all the facts I want, and there’s really no use 
in my trying to go further up the river.” 

Larry thought his new found friend was not 
lacking in assurance; hut there was something 
so genuine, so frank, in the character of Sandy 
Jones, that he could not find it in his heart to 
deny him any favor. 

“Oh, I’ll tell you any news I know that 
doesn’t seem to be a secret— that is, you under- 
stand, I couldn’t betray any confidence the offi- 
cers put in me, for they were very kind ; hut you 
shall have a full description of the fight, and 
all that sort of thing. All I want to do is to make 


26 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


my own way down to Cairo in this boat again 
within a certain set time, ^ ’ he remarked. 

‘‘Why this particular boat— wouldn’t you ac- 
cept an invitation to join me on the Honest JohUi 
which they call the Queen of the Waters, that is 
in case we managed to overtake the blessed 
dahaheah?^* 

But the American lad shook his head in the 
negative. 

“It’s this boat or nothing, with me. That’s 
where the story hangs, and when we get ashore 
I’ll promise to tell it to you, while we’re taking 
a snack.” 

“A what?” demanded the English hoy, to 
whom this word was Greek. 

“A bite— that’s a genuine Virginny word, 
and expresses so much to a hungry fellow. It al- 
ways makes my mouth water, because you see it 
brings to mind such nice things as fried chicken 
or perhaps real Yankee crullers.” 

“Don’t say it— I haven’t had a bite since 
breakfast— it’s cruelty to animals. But per- 
haps I’ve got something more to tell, when it 


OF THE NILE. 


27 


comes to confessing, because, yon see, it wasn’t 
altogether the desire to know what was going on 
up here that caused me to take the plunge, for 
I’d been thinking, about it a long time back. 
Just wait and see— I suppose you’ll laugh, but 
it’s a serious business with me, Larry.” 

Under the vigorous strokes of the Maine boy 
the rather clumsy craft had by this time crossed 
the wide river, and the eastern shore began to 
loom up against the low-lying sky-line. 

Long habit had made Larry quite an expert 
in the art of landing at just the proper place, 
and he now brought the boat to the shore in a 
manner that elicited the admiration of his com- 
panion. 

‘^Say! What kind of a boat is this anyway— 
a candia they told me was one of those big 
clumsy freighters, so it can’t be that; a settee 
has two or three masts, a zebec is the Moorish 
rig,— I also know what a felucca is, also a 
manche and an East Indian boat called patamar, 
but I don’t remember seeing just such a craft 
as this.” 


28 


YOUNG VOYAGEKS 


‘‘Why, you know more about the boats of the 
Nile waters than I do. I chose this contrivance 
because you see it could be easily handled by one 
man. I guess iUs a cross between an Arab hag- 
gala and a Maine canoe, with all the poor points 
of both. Still, the pesky thing has served me 
pretty well, and perhaps IVe no right to com- 
plain. The limit was sixteen feet in length, or 
the wager wouldn’t hold good, and she’s just 
that to the inch. ’ ’ 

“Wager— then that explains your being up 
here— I’ve heard of fellows doing queer things 
for a bet, hut never ran across one before. WIio 
did you wager with, what was it to be, and what 
d’ye get if you win?” 

“Hold on, not so fast! WTien we are settled 
down to our grub — that’s food, perhaps you 
may not know— I’ll tell you all about it. But I 
didn’t, make the contract, and what I hope to 
get out of it is a term at college— that’s all!” 

“H’m! That’s enough, I should say! Just 
you believe that, though I always did detest 
school myself, I can feel a sort of awe for the 


OF THE NILE. 


29 


chap who wants to climb over every blessed 
obstacle in order to get what was as free as the 
air to me, and which I threw aside. How’s this 
for a spot to tumble over on?” 

^ ^ Suits me to a fraction. Here ! Help your- 
self to what I’ve got— you’re as welcome as the 
hour of kief is on a hot blistering day.” 


CHAPTEE III. 

THE LION^S WHELPS THAT KNEW NOT FEAB. 

‘^Now tell me, Larry— I always anxious to ^ 
know things— I guess that’s really what brought 
me out to this desert land, when hy rights I 
ought to he doing my time at Oxford. You see 
I’ve an idea I can get the rest of my education 
through rubbing elbows with the world. Please 
go on and tell me about that wager on which 
you are doing the Nile trip. ’ ’ 

‘^I promised, and I’ll keep my word, though 
it seems a little hit funny to he talking all about 
my past life to one I never met until half an 
hour ago. 

‘‘Well, I’ll cut it just as short as I know how. 

I was born up in Maine, spent my boyhood 
there, went to winter school, and for a year 
or two played at serving as guide for a gentle- 


30 


OF THE NILE. 


31 


man who had a camp up at Tim’s Pond. Then 
the notion came to me to strike out and see some- 
thing of the world, for I was determined to know 
more of the things I heard the gentlemen talking 
about around the campfire nights, when they got 
to discussing science and that sort of learning, 
of which I had only* a smattering. 

^ ^ So it came about that I was a stowaway on 
board a liner bound for the other side. They 
found me, and the captain would have been very 
severe, only some of the passengers chose to take 
an interest in my ambition to see the world and 
consequently I was permitted to work my pas- 
sage over. I landed in London, and having a 
small amount of money by me, wandered about 
seeing the sights. 

‘Ht seems that my story got in the papers by 
some accident, and was read by a couple of gen- 
tlemen who were dining at the Liberal Club. 
One of them was a wealthy American, the owner 
of a big newspaper, the other a London banker— 
and how it came about I cannot say, but suppose 
the New Yorker made some remark to the effect 


32 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


that a young chap with as much grit as I had 
shown would be able to carry himself alone to 
even the camp of Kitchener and back, if given 
half a chance. Well, any way, it seems that the 
Englishinan chose to doubt it, and they fell into 
a hot discussion, out of which grew a wager for 
a good many thousand pounds a side. 

^ ^ They hunted me up that very day, and put it 
to me. Would I dare take the chances for a 
thousand pounds if I won, and honorable men- 
tion in the columns of the Times if I never 
showed up again? 

“Why, I just snapped the bait up so quick, I 
rather staggered the banker; but he was game 
all through. They explained the business to me 
from end to end, and when they finished I was 
more decided to go than ever, seeing which the 
New Yorker shook hands with me, and called it 
a bargain. They both came with me to Cairo, 
and saw me off. The rich American hardly 
wanted to let me go at the end, and would have 
backed out and paid the penalty if I’d shown the 
least sign of funking; but I just laughed and 


OF THE NHiE. 


33 


told him it would be a nice little picnic for me, 
and that he could count on seeing me show up 
with a letter from General Kitchener in good 
time. 

‘‘Eeally, that’s about the whole thing— I’ve 
been up the river to the camp where the British 
and their Egyptian allies hold forth, after hav- 
ing scattered the dervish army to the four winds, 
and about wiped out a section of it with their 
quick-firing guns. Later on you shall have the 
whole story just as I heard it from some of the 
general’s aides— yes, and from the lips of that 
cold, stern fighter himself. It made my heart 
fairly jump, and I tell you, Sandy, I was glad to 
remember that there was English blood in my 
veins too.” 

Then the boy from the tight little island whose 
sons stray into every known part of the world, 
pushed out his hand impulsively. ‘‘Shake on 
that, Larry— you’re right, what belongs to one 
must be shared in by the other, for blood is thick- 
er than water. Don’t wait too long about telling 

me the particulars, because you see I’ve a lot of 
2 


34 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


cousins and such like up there, winning glory 
for the old flag, ’ ’ said he. 

‘‘And now, how about that other matter 
asked the owner of the lone craft. 

“Oh, yes, I did promise to tell you something 
more about my coming out to this queer old 
country, where by day you are blistered, and at 
night get the shakes from the cold air that blows 
over the desert. Please don^t laugh too hard, 
because, though it may seem funny, and even 
ridiculous on the face of it, the mission has 
something of a sacred side to me. Promise 
first.’’ 

“All right— I’ll try mighty hard to keep a 
sober face, though you have already got me 
guessing pretty fast. No wager in yours, I sup- 
pose?” 

“Hardly! You see, I wasn’t always loaded 
down with this world’s goods as I happen to be 
just at present. In fact I know what it is to 
want things pretty bad and take it out in want- 
ing. But one day there came to my humble 
home, where I lived with an aunt, a lawyer with 


OF THE NILE. 


35 


some fierce looking documents. What d’ye 
think! He wanted to inform me I had fallen 
heir to a snug sum of money, enough to let me 
live like a fighting-cock or a real live lord, on 
the interest alone. It came to me from an Uncle 
Theodore who had recently kicked the bucket— 
I mean passed off this mortal coil— away out in 
Egypt, where he was doing what he had always 
been fond of above all things, exploring un- 
known lands. I never knew why he picked me 
out as the one nephew he wanted to have his 
money, but it was mighty nice of Uncle Ted all 
the same, and I appreciated it a good lot, I’m 
telling you. I remembered him fairly well, for 
he used to make a good hit of me when I was a 
wee kid, dandling me on his knee and such like ; 
and it seems that even then he must have made 
up his mind I was to come into the pile, because 
the will was more than twelve years old. 

‘ ‘ I fixed it up with my poor old aunt all right, 
and then came to London to look around and 
have the laugh on some of those high-flown news- 


36 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


paper chaps who had made all manner of fnn 
over the letters I sent ’em. 

^^Well, the more I got thinking abont it the 
greater became my curiosity concerning the 
manner of Uncle Ted’s taking-off; and pretty 
soon it seemed to me that there was nothing on 
earth worth while but hunting up particulars 
in that line. Money will do lots of things, Larry, 
don ’t you know. It found the man who was with 
him on that last exploring trip, and made him 
tell the whole story, word for word. 

^ ^ I had been given to understand that he had 
met his death at the hands of a desert warrior, 
and it was a rude jar to learn that such a glori- 
ous fate could not be put down as his wind-up. 
In fact, to tell the honest truth. Uncle Ted had 
fallen a victim to the fierce appetite of the big- 
gest, wickedest crocodile that swam the Upper 
Nile. I should hate to tell you just how long 
Peters swore the reptile was, but after once 
sighting it Uncle had made a vow that he would 
hang around that place and either get the giant 


OP THE NILE. 


37 


or be taken in by bim. Well, it appears that he 
was taken in, all right. 

‘‘The story, as Peters told it, was very ex- 
citing, and at the same time I had to drop a tear 
in memory of the old chap, who was game to the 
last kick; for hadnT he been awfully good to me 
in leaving me all his money, which he had no 
use for in the country to which he went— Peters 
said it would have melted there, for he confessed 
that Uncle Ted was a very profane man, who 
feared nothing on earth, or in the hereafter. 

“Perhaps it may have been adjudgment that 
he was swallowed up by the biggest crocodile 
that ever was, just as Jonah was taken in by the 
whale, you know. Well, the story kept working 
on me, and even though my benefactor had been 
put to death by a reptile, I seemed to feel it was 
up to me, my duty like, to avenge his untimely 
taking-off— is that the correct way of putting 
it, when it was very timely, so far as I was con- 
cerned? 

“Finally I made up my mind to come out 
here and kill two birds with one stone as they 


38 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


say— try to make a reputation as an independent 
newspaper war-correspondent, and at the same 
time wage a relentless battle against the scaly 
creatures that the fellahin in Egypt call timseh, 

‘^Now, I don’t mind confessing to you, Larry, 
seeing that it will not go any further, that I’ve 
had a sneaking hope of being able to find that 
identical old moss-back who gobbled my blessed 
uncle up ; and if I could only put a steel- jacketed 
bullet through his brain, I’d feel that everything 
had been evened up. ’ ’ 

‘^But,” said Larry, refiectively, for he was 
always given to hunting up obstacles, usually 
for the mere pleasure of overcoming them, how 
can you tell when you run across the rascal— all 
crocs look alike to me, some bigger than others 
it’s true— have you got him marked in any 
way?” 

Sandy gave a nervous little chuckle, and no 
doubt looked a bit foolish, but the starlight failed 
to disclose this to the eyes of his comrade. 

‘^That’s where the laugh comes in. You see 
I’ve knocked over some pretty big chaps up to 


OF THE NILE. 


39 


now, and this is about the region where aceord- 
ing to Peters the tragedy came to pass. As soon 
as IVe killed the beast I examine his interior 
department, remembering what queer things 
saurians are said to retain in their stomachs in- 
definitely ; but I haven T found them yet, though 
I still have hopes. ’ ^ 

“What’s meant by ^them? ’ ” asked Larry, in 
a fog. 

“WHiy, you see Uncle Ted sported a set of 
false teeth of a peculiar make— he had original 
notions about some things, and fancied the den- 
tists of today know very little about their busi- 
ness. I have an accurate description of those 
teeth, accompanied by a diagram, given to me, 
and if I find a set answering that account. I’ll 
know fortune has been kind enough to let me 
avenge poor old Uncle Ted, who never forgot 
his little nephew, Lysander.” 

Larry almost forgot his promise, the inclina- 
tion to laugh was so great; for it seemed very 
ludicrous to think of the bold crocodile hunter 
exploring the interior department of his vie- 


40 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


tims, in the hope of finding a set of false teeth 
that would bring great peace and joy to his as- 
piring soul, after which he could enjoy his 
legacy all the better. 

‘‘Well, it is a queer affair, and I don^t wonder 
that some rude chaps have given you the laugh 
when you told ’em about it ; and yet I can see 
that back of the funny part there’s some grain 
of sense in the search-warrant you’re putting 
up. And on my honor I hope you’ll find the 
teeth sooner or later, if you have to wipe out 
the whole crocodile population along the Upper 
Nile.” 

“Well said, old chap! You’re the first sen- 
sible fellow I’ve met. And I don’t mind saying 
that I’m serious in my intentions, much more so 
than would appear on the surface. That moss- 
hack has got to succumb sooner or later, for I’m 
determined that those teeth, if so he that’s all I 
can recover of poor Uncle, shall have a decent 
burial in the old family plot at home in old 
England.” 


OF THE NILE. 


41 


^‘Listen said Larry, suddenly sitting up 
straight. 

‘^What do you think you hearT’ asked the 
other, beginning to claw for his heavy repeat- 
ing rifle, with which he had been wont to prac- 
tice on the saurians as they lay sunning them- 
selves on the banks of the sacred river. 

heard voices across the water, and up yon- 
der just where you had your little fire. So I 
guess the dervishes I saw riding this way must 
have pounced down on your nest,^’ whispered 
Larry, showing a little excitement. 

‘‘But theyfll find the bird flown,’’ remarked 
Sandy, chuckling. 

“ Ah ! yes, but the nest may still be warm, and 
that will tell such sharp trackers that the bird 
can’t be far away. Let’s listen now and see 
what happens. ’ ’ 


CHAPTER IV, 


GIVING THE DEEVISHES THE SLIP. 

Something did happen, and that very soon. 
The sound of voices floated across the stream, 
and Larry, who had heard the Arab dialect 
many times during the course of his long trip, 
understood that the speakers represented the 
most desperate element to be found north of the 
Great Sahara. 

They had evidently come across the ashes 
of Sandy’s little fire, and made the discovery 
that considerable warmth still hovered over the 
same. Of course this informed them that the 
party responsible for the blaze must have de- 
parted but a brief time before their arrival. 
They would naturally scour the surrounding 
territory, under the impression that this party 
must be a courier, sent by the British conqueror 


42 


OF THE NILE. 


43 


with valuable tidings, which it would he to their 
interest to capture. 

So long as they kept to the other shore, the 
hoys had no reason to fear for their safety ; but 
when they heard the dervishes down by the 
water’s edge, and noted their exclamations of 
surprise as they flashed a light to and fro, it 
became evident that they had discovered the 
fact that a boat had been drawn up against the 
hank at that particular spot. 

‘‘I say,” whispered Sandy, ‘‘d’ye suppose 
those chaps would dare swim their horses across 
the river?” 

Somehow he voiced the very thought that was 
giving Larry some concern. 

“I wouldn’t put it past them, if they care to 
take the chances of running up against an old he 
alligator, or as they call ’em here, crocodile,” 
returned the Maine hoy, carelessly. 

“Then what do we want to do— must we fight 
that whole blooming crowd?” 

“I guess not. The safest thing for us is to 
float down stream some distance, and then camp 


44 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


on this same shore. What d’ye think, Sandy?” 

He asked this, not hecanse he had any idea 
the greenhorn could advise, but simply on ac- 
count of the fact that they two were in the same 
boat, and it looked better for them to be on 
terms of equality. 

Sandy was quite tickled at the evidence of 
consideration shown. ‘‘Second the motion,” he 
said, eagerly, for somehow the prospect of com- 
ing in close contact with these slave-hunters of 
the Soudan did not give him the least bit of sat- 
isfaction. He had heard tremendous stories of 
their cruelty, and while these had not concerned 
him much when safe at home in old England, 
they assumed different proportions now that he 
was in the Land of the Mahdi. 

Larry knew the value of time. 

“Let’s get the things back in the boat; but be 
mighty careful not to make the least bit of noise. 
If you struck a tin pan, they’d hear it as plain as 
day,” he remarked, under his breath. 

They labored with great caution. Had they 
been bent on robbing a bank it would hardly 


OF THE NILE. 


45 


have been possible to have shown more care in 
all their movements. In this fashion were the 
various articles replaced within the little river 
craft, until finally Larry gave his new-found 
friend to understand that it was time they em- 
barked. 

When floating along with the stream Sandy 
breathed a sigh of genuine relief, for the idea 
that they were leaving those ferocious hard- 
riders of the desert in the lurch, was pleasing to 
him. On his part Larry was listening closely. 

‘‘None too soon,’’ he whispered, finally. 

“Wliat, have they entered the water? Are 
they coming over ? ’ ’ questioned the English lad, 
with new concern in his voice. 

“It seems so— anyhow, there’s something 
swimming over yonder, whether a hippopota- 
mus, or a crocodile, or horses, I can’t just ex- 
actly say. Hark! you may hear the snorting. 
It’s horses all right, and the owners doubtless 
swim in their wake, holding on by the flowing 
tail— that’s a way they have.” 


46 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


The sounds became less distinct as the boat 
was drawn further down stream. 

‘‘It was lucky we moved when we did— I sup- 
pose if we ’d stayed, there ’d be something doing 
by this time. Ugh! I don’t mind shooting 
crocodiles, but when it comes to human beings, 
even if they are only fetish worshipers, I shud- 
der to think of it. And yet, d’ye know, once I 
even gloried in the thought of fighting my way 
across the Dark Continent like Stanley did— 
perhaps I’ve got a speck of Uncle’s love for ex- 
ploring in me, and in time a fellow may even get 
used to murdering savages.” 

Sandy was evidently fond of advancing his 
views ; but this was only a minor fault, for which 
the Maine boy could readily forgive him. The 
fact of his company compensated for many 
things. 

The darkness was appalling, by this time. 

“I’ve heard of the plague of darkness that 
came on Egypt,” said Sandy, “but this is the 
real genuine article, bet your boots. Why, it’s 


OP THE NILE. 


47 


almost thick enough to feel. Can you see the 
shore at all, comrade 

Ve kept track of it all the time, and we can 
reach it when we want. By this time I imagine 
we ’re far enough. ’ ’ 

‘‘Two good miles if a furlong.” 

“All right. I’ll edge in and see what the 
prospect may be.” 

Presently the shore line loomed up against the 
star-studded sky. At the same time the prow 
of the boat began to swish against something in 
the water that caused Sandy to give vent to an 
exclamation of alarm. 

“It’s nothing but reeds growing in the shal- 
lows,” said the other. 

“Oh, yes, the same old bulrushes that doubt- 
less hid the baby Moses, eh?” laughed the 
other, reassured, but still a trifle nervous. 

“They’ve served me for cover many a time, 
and just now I’m mighty glad to run across ’em 
here. We can leave the boat among them, per- 
fectly secure, while we go inland a short dis- 
tance to sleep.” 


48 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


‘‘But why not stay in the hoatIV 

“It can be done, but I give you fair warning 
it^s hard on a fellow’s bones. You see I haven’t 
enough material to make a decent mattress, and 
the sharp points of the boat’s ribs jam you 
dreadfully. Perhaps we might try it for a 
change. The mosquitoes are pretty ferocious 
too on the water, you’ll find.” 

“Well, I’m willing to experiment, if you say 
so. I don’t like the idea of leaving the river. 
The thought of those rough-riders coming down 
on a fellow as he sleeps on the open sand is— 
well, it bothers me some. You see, I’ve always 
had the comforts of my fine dahaheah when 
night came, and I’m something of a tenderfoot 
when it comes to roughing it, though ambitious 
to learn all there is connected with the busi- 
ness.” 

“We’ll stay all right,” said Larry, thinking 
that the experience would be apt to leave a last- 
ing impression upon the mind of the other lad. 
As for himself, even his seasoned ribs still ached 


OF THE NILE. 


49 


from former acquaintance with the sharp edges 
of the boat’s interior. 

Accordingly the craft was fastened to a bunch 
of the reeds, and they made what few prepara- 
tions were necessary, looking to their comfort. 
Larry had a piece of mosquito net which he used 
when ashore, but it could not be utilized under 
these conditions. 

^‘Now, I’ve got a variety of ointments and 
oils aboard the Honest John, each one guaran- 
teed to do the business ; but for all the good they 
do me tonight, they might as well be back in the 
shop on the Strand where I bought them,” re- 
marked the London boy, as he brushed away a 
cloud of little vampires that tried to make life 
miserable for him, and succeeded fairly well 
too. 

Larry knew various devices whereby the in- 
sects could be kept at bay, and he initiated his 
new comrade into the wrinkle ; so that presently 
the two of them lay in the bottom of the boat 
with their heads swathed in towels or something 
of the sort; a small opening allowed of breath- 
4 


50 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


ing. Fortunately the night air was already be- 
ginning to get cool, or they must have smothered 
in such sweltering harness. 

They took their sleep in cat-naps, so to speak. 
Larry was in the habit of waking every little 
while, and at such times he would raise his head, 
listen intently, and note the swish of the water 
as it passed through the patch of friendly reeds, 
or it might be smile to himself at catching the 
hoarse cry of his old friend the night-heron, 
fluttering along the reedy shores in search of 
food. Then satisfied that there was no occasion 
for alarm he rearranged his mosquito proof 
head-gear, after which he lay down in a new 
position, so as to give all his bones an equal 
chance to make acquaintance with the ribs of the 
water vehicle. 

Sandy grunted a good deal, much to the 
amusement of the more seasoned lad. It was 
just as well. Such experiences would not hurt 
him. He had been brought up too softly, and it 
was time he rubbed up against some hard prop- 
osition. Such things toughen a lad, and make 



HE THREW HIS GUN UP TO HIS SHOULDER. 

(Page 104.) 







ir. 


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w 



I 







I 


I ^ 












4 


^ • • 






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. 4 

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4 

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- ' i 



OF THE NILE. 


51 


him able to hold his own against the hard knocks 
of the unfeeling world. Possibly that was the 
longest night Sandy ever spent. Before the 
peep of day he crawled over the gunwale of the 
boat, in water that was hardly knee high, and 
waded ashore. 

Although Larry viewed this exodus with con- 
siderable amusement he made no remark, but 
turned over for another doze. An hour later, 
when the sun was beginning to warm things up, 
he also landed and found his friend on the sand, 
oblivious to everything. 

Larry had mercy on him, and allowed him to 
sleep until breakfast was ready. There was no 
sign of the enemy, so that he thought it best to 
kindle a little fire with some reeds and such ma- 
terial, over which a pot of coffee could be boiled. 
When all was ready he rattled a tin-pan close to 
the ears of the sleeper, and laughed to see how 
Sandy leaped to his feet in wild alarm, clawing 
to the right and left for some weapon. 

He afterward admitted that he had been 
dreaming he was made the king of some Sahara 


52 


YOUNO VOYAGERS 


empire, and a bloody revolution had broken out 
in his dominions when Larry rang the dinner 
bell of the cattle range. ‘‘Thank goodness that 
night’s done,” he exclaimed, solemnly; and the 
more hardened Larry felt really sorry for him 
when he noted that the face of the English lad 
was marked with mosquito bites, and his eyes 
red from lack of sleep. 

“Say, that coffee’s the real thing, sure 
enough ! Goes to the right spot ! And when we 
get moving again I hope we’ll soon sight my 
runaway dahaheah, for there’s quite a few 
things I’d like to get hold of,” Sandy remarked, 
hopefully. 


CHAPTER V. 

SANDY TRIES FOR BIG GAME. 

Now the boy from Maine had his own ideas 
about their overhauling the fugitive dahaheah, 
and he was of the opinion it would not come 
about as speedily as the heir of Uncle Theodore 
expected. Of course it was no concern of his, 
since his arrangements would not admit of tak- 
ing advantage of a more comfortable means of 
travel, the terms of his patron’s wager being 
that the whole journey to Khartoum and back 
should be made in the composite little vessel 
that had been purchased for him at the start in 
Cairo. 

Once again they were moving down the river. 
The conditions had changed a trifle since yes- 
terday, and the country bordering the Nile gave 
evidences of becoming more hilly. 


53 


54 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


Though as a general thing the desert lies 
along the entire course of the long river, there 
are places where Nature has upreared hills, 
through which the stream has in ages past cut its 
own passage. Such are the several cataracts 
where the river plunges down quite a declivity 
with considerable violence, making it extremely 
difficult to navigate a boat up or down, when the 
water is low, except through artificial means. 

They had evidently come upon a stretch of 
this species of rough country, and Larry greeted 
it with more or less joy, since he was weary of 
the eternal sameness of the desert, and even 
frowning rocks would look more like the land- 
scape with which he was familiar in his own 
dear country. 

Of course these same conditions favored an 
ambush. The dusky tribesmen loved to shelter 
themselves amid these elevations, and with their 
long-barreled Arab guns cover the river, which 
naturally enough narrowed in such places. 

And yet it was not prudent to attempt to run 
through the rapids after night had set in, since 


OF THE NILE. 


55 


a spill would mean peril, not to speak of the loss 
of such precious things as were carried in the 
boat. The safest course was to keep as near 
the centre of the river as possible, and expose 
themselves no more than they could help. 

‘‘And to think I never bothered my head 
about danger when we were dragging the Hon- 
est J ohn up through here. Why, some of those 
fellows might have been watching us, and cap- 
tured the whole outfit. Now I understand why 
that miserable old dragoman Achmet mutinied. 
He knewT’ said the English lad. 

Judging from the way in which Sandy kept 
his head moving from side to side, as though 
desirous of covering the whole territory, and 
allowing nothing to escape him, it was evident 
he suspected that each and every projecting 
rock sheltered a dervish ; only waiting until the 
boat came opposite, when he meant to open a 
hot fire. Larry was also on the lookout, and his 
experience allowed him to make the anticipated 
discovery long before his friend saw the first 
sign of danger. 


56 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


saw something glitter in the sunlight away 
down on the left, where that highest pile 
stands; sure it must have been a gun in the 
hands of some chap who has evil designs on us 
poor pilgrims,” he exclaimed, suddenly. 

‘^Now what will we doU’ demanded Sandy, 
showing excitement. 

For answer the other began to paddle most 
vigorously, and the boat headed toward the op- 
posite bank. Here the water was rougher, and 
the chances of their striking some snag seemed 
to increase, but it was policy to give as wide a 
berth as possible to the point of danger. 

‘^What if there are some more of the beggars 
on this side of the river I” said Sandy, crouch- 
ing on his knees forward, and surveying the 
bank they were approaching^ with considerable 
concern. 

‘H’m taking chances— iUs our only hope. In 
that case, why we must throw up a white rag 
and surrender, unless we want to be filled with 
lead.” 


OF THE NILE. 


57 


‘‘Do those fellows shoot well with their queer 
old gunsT^ 

“Sometimes. I Ve seen Arabs who were good 
marksmen. The moving boat may make it more 
difficult for them to get a bead on us; hut at 
short range— ugh! it makes me feel creepy/’ 
said Larry, still paddling away. 

“Hello! there they go!” cried the other, as a 
puff of smoke shot out from the top of the rise 
against which Larry’s suspicions had been 
aroused. 

They heard the distant report, and at about 
the same instant there was a splash in the 
water just ahead, showing where the bullet had 
dropped. 

“He’s got the range all right, to begin with, 
but he gave too much time to the moving boat. 
Perhaps he may do better next time,” said 
Larry, who did not appear to be very greatly 
worried about what was happening on that side 
the river. The second shot went over the mark, 
and they actually heard the peculiar singing 
sound as the bit of lead flew above their heads. 


58 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


Sandy involuntarily ducked; it is quite natural 
with a novice, just as if such belated action 
could do the least good. 

^‘This is getting warm. I know now what a 
fellow ^s feeling must be like when he’s in a big 
battle, only it’s different when he has a chance 
to return the compliments. Whew ! that was a 
close shave, eh, Larry?” as another messenger 
from the shore went skipping over the little 
waves just beyond the stem of the moving boat. 
‘‘Oh, a miss is as good as a mile. You see we’re 
just opposite now, and they have a fine chance. 
So far, there’s no sign of trouble over here,” 
jerking his thumb back over his shoulder. 

Sandy had been reaching for something in the 
bottom of the boat. He now lifted up one of the 
guns, being the heavy Martini which he had used 
in his warfare against the crocodile tribe. 

‘ ‘ May I try ? ” he asked, eagerly. 

“If you want to ! Why not send ’em back as 
good as they give? I don’t believe in letting 
one side have all the fun. Allow for the drop— 
that middle sight’s about the thing. Now, give 
’em Hail Columbia!” 


OF THE NILE. 


59 


So the English lad began to shoot; and he 
turned the bullets loose in a reckless fashion, as 
became one who had no reason to worry about 
the funds with which to supply ammunition. 

‘‘Hurrah! see the chips fly from the rock. 
YouVe given ’em a pain, comrade; they don’t 
pop away at us as fast as before. I’ll keep an 
eye on this hank meanwhile, and if there ’s sign 
of new trouble, why it will he my turn. ’ ’ 

Fortunately there did not appear to he any 
ambuscade on the rear shore, for which both of 
the lads were grateful. The fierce current 
swooped them along, and was quickly taking the 
boat beyond range of the concealed marksmen 
sprawled upon the rocks. Sandy ceased firing 
only because his magazine turned up empty. 
Shouts were borne across the water, and they 
could see half a dozen weird figures with flow- 
ing robes dancing up and down in impotent 
rage, as they waved their arms and made all 
manner of insulting gestures. One among them 
appeared to be wrapping a bandage around his 
leg. 


60 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


‘‘Hello! you potted one of the beggars, sure 
enough. I guess you know how to handle that 
gun of yours all right, ’ ’ laughed Larry ; whereat 
his companion blushed, and showed considerable 
curiosity concerning the truth of the assertion. 

“That^s something to talk about, anyway. 
I’m glad now I thought of shooting back. They 
didn’t have all the fun, eh?” he said; but Larry 
was too busy to make further reply, for the rocks 
that strewed the bed of the river at this point 
threatened to wreck their craft unless great care 
was taken. 

At such a time the education he had received 
upon the streams of his native State served him 
well, since a quick eye, correct judgment, and a 
stout wrist are necessary accomplishments to the 
successful running of rapids. Both boys 
breathed sighs of relief when finally they passed 
beyond the foamy section, where sharp-pointed 
snags lay in wait to puncture any venture- 
some vessel that, handled without discretion, 
came their way. 

Below, the river was fairly placid again. 


OF THE NILE. 


61 


though the shores still retained their rugged 
character. 

Well did Larry remember this place, and how 
his arms had ached pushing his boat up against 
the fierce current, gaining foot after foot, and 
yielding not an inch again. Several times he 
turned his head and looked hack. 

Sandy suspected there was some motive for 
this survey. ‘‘What now!’’ he asked, when 
Larry gave a grunt, as if to say, “told you so !” 

“Oh! those plaguy old fellows who couldn’t 
hit our boat a while hack have got their horses, 
and are riding to overtake us; that’s all!” 

The English lad began to pour another grist 
of cartridges into the magazine of his Martini. 
If his hand trembled a trifie, what would you ex- 
pect! He had never passed through such 
strange experiences as this, and the way in 
which he kept up aroused the admiration of the 
Maine boy, whose life had been of a more stren- 
uous character. 

“That’s right! We’ll just give the rascals 
to know they are barking up the wrong tree 


62 


YOUNG VO Y AGEES 


when they tackle ns. I don’t know whether you 
understand what that means, hut anyhow there ’s 
going to he warm times if they bother us any 
more. I shall take a hand in the fun myself.” 

There were just six of the horsemen, and they 
came coursing along in a very picturesque man- 
ner, just as Sandy had seen in colored pictures ; 
for all these desert warriors have a peculiar 
fashion of throwing their weapons up above 
their heads, and going through the most ex- 
travagant gestures, as if in that fashion they 
would indicate the scorn they feel for death. Of 
course they were able to gallop faster than the 
boat was going, though just at this point the cur- 
rent swept along at a lively clip. So they passed 
the two young voyagers of the sacred river, and 
planted themselves upon a point of land a short 
distance below. 

Larry edged in still closer to the other shore. 
It was not very pleasant, bearing down in this 
fashion upon an ambush, and now that the enemy 
had taken up a station almost on the level with 
the boat it was possible they might shoot to bet- 


OF THE NILE. 


63 


ter advantage. Larry was surveying the shore 
intently. 

^^WeVe got the call on the villains! Look 
yonder, and see what an elegant fort that bunch 
of rocks makes. I rather guess we’ll make it too 
hot for our friends over there, because their 
cover is shabby. Now, get ready to jump.” 

‘‘Then we’re going to land?” asked the 
novice, eagerly. 

“Yes, take your gun and jump ashore— dodge 
behind what shelter you can find, and take up 
position in the fort. I’ll join you as soon as I 
make sure of the boat.” 

And even as Sandy scurried along the little 
beach there came the boom of several guns 
across the water, proving that the enemy had 
opened the ball. 


CHAPTER VI. 


THE BATTLE OF THE NILE. 

Some of the leaden messengers splashed in the 
water, falling short, while others, better aimed, 
rattled fnrionsly among the shale, close beside 
the running youth. 

There was one good thing. After this volley 
there must inevitably follow a brief period of 
inaction, while the fellows across the river re- 
loaded, for their guns were of the old-fashioned, 
single-barrel variety, doubtless decorated and 
inlaid after the fashion of all Arab shooting- 
irons. This gave Larry the opportunity he 
sought. He caught up the little anchor and as 
he sprang ashore he planted this in the sand, 
feeling sure of finding the boat where he left it, 
since the window-cord cable was stout and new. 
Before he could quite find shelter there began 
64 


OF THE NILE. 


65 


a new fusillade across the way, and things 
looked interesting; but by this time the anxious 
Sandy had commenced to pump away most 
heartily, spurred on by the trifling success that 
had followed his former efforts. Nor could 
Larry wait until he had reached the side of his 
comrade, but elevating his gun he began to do 
his little act; so that on the whole it sounded 
somewhat as though a battle were in progress 
in this land where the sturdy Briton had met 
the dusky hordes of the desert at Kirbedan, 
Abu-Klea and Abu-Kree. Evidently the bom- 
.bardment of our two lads was producing con- 
siderable of an impression, for the return shots 
seemed wildly fired; and presently signs of a 
commotion were visible, followed by a concerted 
rush for the spot where the horses had been left. 

“Cease firing!’’ cried Larry, laughingly. 

“Look at the beggars run for it— and some of 
them seem to limp as though we ’d done damage 
too— why, Larry, I count only five— d’ye hear!” 

“ So I observe, and if you look sharp you may 


5 


66 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


see the other chap over on the point still,’’ re- 
marked the Maine hoy. 

‘‘Oh, have we killed one?” gasped Sandy, be- 
ginning to look anxious. 

“I don’t think it’s quite as bad as that, though 
the wretch deserves it, after trying to do us up. 
You can see him squirm now and then, so I 
guess he ’s only hard hit and thinks it best to lie 
there. See ’em fling themselves on their horses ! 
Away they go, just as fast as they came, but you 
notice they don’t seem so bragging-like. Fact 
is they’ve found out we can sting, eh?” 

“Will they let us alone after this?” 

“These tigers of the desert have long mem- 
ories. Whether they care to follow us further 
depends on many things. If they should chance 
to run across another crowd, it’s just as likely 
they’d keep the ball rolling.” 

“Then I hope they won’t; at least not until 
we overtake that runaway dahabeah of mine, 
where we’d be in better shape to stand ’em otf ; 
for, I don’t know that I told you, but I invested 
in one of those lovely little quick-firing guns. 


OF THE NILE. 


67 


and we have it mounted forward, with its shield. 
I’ve always wanted to see how that thing 
worked. Once I opened with it on three croco- 
diles on the bank. Why, honest now, it chewed 
the poor beasts all to pieces. Ugh! it gives me 
a shiver to even think of turning it loose upon 
men; but when once a fellow goes into this ex- 
ploring business I suppose he has to get used to 
lots of things, don’t you?” 

It quite amused Larry to hear him talk, for 
the English boy had a way of screwing up his 
face to give added force to his words, and in this 
fashion he did manage to look very comical, even 
when most desirous of being serious. 

‘‘I wonder if there is any game about here?” 
said Larry during the morning, while they were 
passing quite a patch of hilly country. 

*‘I’m sure I don’t know, but they told me that 
just across in Abyssinia there are lions and such 
things galore. Thought some of extending my 
tour, so as to pick up an acquaintance with old 
Menelik— they say he’s quite a fine chap, and so 
friendly to Britishers too; but the loss of my 


68 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


comfortable boat has just about upset all my 
plans, and I fancy I may consider myself lucl^ 
now if I return to London with a whole skin.’’ 

Whatever the inclination of the Maine boy 
may have been, he certainly knew too much to 
give way to it, with time passing, and danger 
hovering around in various shapes. 

Some day perhaps, when he had gotten on in 
the world, he would be able to come out here and 
indulge his love for sport to his heart’s content. 
Now it was a question of winning that strange 
wager for his American backer, and at the same 
time attaining the means for an education such 
as he had long desired. 

‘‘I should have thought you’d consider this 
sort of thing rather monotonous,” remarked 
Sandy, when they had been drifting along for 
some more hours, and things looked just the 
same as ever. 

‘‘Oh, I have, but then it’s a part of my nature 
to grit my teeth and do what I set out for. I 
expect to go through, wind and weather per- 
mitting, for you see I’d never be happy now un- 


OF THE NHiE. 


69 


less I got that college course. And then, IVe 
known what it is to be lonely before, since IVe 
roamed the big pine woods for weeks at a time, 
without seeing a living soul. One can get used 
to almost anything.” 

There was that in Larry’s voice to proclaim his 
life had not been a very happy one, buffeted 
as he had been by chance ; and the other felt a 
reproach because at times he may have grum- 
bled over some trifling thing that went wrong. 

Sandy began to understand what a very lucky 
boy he was, and how thankful he ought to be to 
dear old Uncle Ted, who had so considerately 
allowed a monster crocodile to swallow him, so 
his money could be put into circulation by his 
favorite nephew. 

Whenever they approached a bend of the 
stream, Sandy started up eagerly, and com- 
menced a hopeful watch until they had rounded 
it, and the same old story was repeated— noth- 
ing in sight. Evidently the wily Achmet wanted 
to get further down the river ere he allowed 
himself the pleasure of loitering, until such time 


70 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


as all the good stores aboard the dahaheah had 
been exhausted. 

Larry was more interested in the receding 
landscape. It would not have surprised him to 
have seen signs of pursuit, for he knew how 
these fighters of the desert, once blood has been 
spilled, can be just as persevering as the gray 
wolf of the Siberian steppes that follows its in- 
tended quarry by day and night, persistently, 
until the game is won. 

The approach of another night found them 
having made good progress, but still a long way 
from the first outpost of civilization. Save for 
the army that held the conquered capital of the 
despot of Kordofan, there was in all probability 
not a friendly force south of the Second Falls of 
the Nile; while many companies of dervishes 
scoured the desert, seeking whom they might 
assail. 

‘‘How shall we sleep tonight U’ Larry asked, 
with a twinkle in his eye. 

“I don’t know how you will, but as for myself 
I’m determined to go ashore, no matter what 


OF THE NILE. 


71 


the risk. Why, honest now, I’d die if I had to 
pnt in another spell in this boat. Not that she 
isn’t a very fair craft after her kind; hnt you 
see she was never fashioned to fit the human 
frame, and her ribs are of a certainty tougher 
than mine. I cry quits,” declared Sandy, 
promptly. 

‘^Oh, in time you would get used to even that; 
but what’s the use in making yourself unhappy, 
when there’s plenty of land at our doors.” 

‘‘Good, then we go ashore. And perhaps if 
we land early enough I might even induce you to 
make another pot of that delicious coffee. Never 
knew what a jolly invigorator it was; you see 
we are great tea drinkers at home.” 

“If that’s what you want now’s the golden 
opportunity. I understand just why you picked 
up those dead reeds when we halted at noon to 
stretch our legs ; you had a blaze in view, and a 
cup of Java nectar. There’s an ideal landing 
place directly ahead, and it looks as though we 
might hide our fire in the little gully that runs 
back from the river.” 


72 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


What a relief it was to once more feel the solid 
ground under their feet. Being cramped up in 
the boat was a nuisance, and for the life of him, 
Sandy could not understand how his friend had 
stood it so long. He was not possessed of the 
patience and indomitable perseverance which 
had always been a distinguishing characteristic 
trait of the boy from the Maine woods. It was 
laughable too, to see how Sandy, who had once 
turned up his nose at the mention of the name 
of coffee, now hovered to leeward of the small 
fire, and kept sniffing the air as though the odor 
represented ambrosia to him. 

They sat down to eat as the first shadows of 
night began to close in. The broad river at such 
a time always looked unusually mysterious to 
Larry, who had something of a poetic tempera- 
ment. He liked to watch the sun sink like a 
blazing ball behind the quivering sands, and fol- 
low the rosy flush of its declining glory from 
cloud to cloud. There lay the calm and majestic 
stream upon whose bosom had floated the his- 
toric barge of the beautiful Cleopatra; Mark 


OF THE NILE. 


73 


Antony had stemmed its tide with his flotilla; 
Caesar too had embarked upon its yellow flood, 
while later on there came another great con- 
queror, Napoleon, who left the handmark of his 
genius in the Land of the Pyramids. 

Larry did not know as much about these things 
as he wished, but he had pored over a volume 
which his friend and patron had tossed into the 
boat as it left the Cairo wharf, and the desire 
to learn more was becoming like a burning 
prairie fire. Long they sat there and talked as 
the river flowed past. The boat was hidden amid 
some rushes growing in a peculiar little cove. 

Larry had taken some fishing tackle and while 
they thus sat and exchanged confidences both 
of them engaged in pulling in an occasional fish. 
What the species might he they neither knew 
nor cared— Larry vouched for their being 
edible, and that was enough— he had tried them 
on several occasions when the humor moved, 
and he felt a desire for a change of food. 

‘ ‘ One thing we must look out for, and that is 
to hide the scaly things until morning. The 


74 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


prowling jackals have a fine nose for fish ; they 
ate up a mess or two for me, much to my dis- 
gust,’^ remarked Larry; and upon being ques- 
tioned he told how he had taken a satisfactory 
revenge for the theft. Finally, feeling the need 
of rest after their arduous day in the boat, fol- 
lowing a night of wretched sleep, they began to 
make themselves as comfortable as the circum- 
stances allowed, Larry showing his less experi- 
enced companion how the thing was done. 

Before lying down Larry took a little saunter 
around ; he felt uneasy, though unable to account 
for such a thing, for there was no sign of trouble. 
He did not have the heart to compel poor Sandy 
to spend another night in the grip of those boat 
ribs, while the little vessel lay hidden among 
the bulrushes; and yet bad as that might have 
seemed, it would have been the part of policy. 

Both lads slept soundly, as was natural, since 
Nature demands that any loss in her recupera- 
tive plan must be made up. If certain things 
came to pass they heard nothing, saw nothing. 
It was quite by accident that Larry opened his 


OF THE NILE. 


75 


eyes along about midnight, and was astounded 
at discovering a peculiar glow around the spot 
where they lay. He immediately sat up and was 
very nearly petrified by what his eyes beheld, 
nor could he at first believe that it was other 
than a dream, a nightmare which somehow re- 
fused to vanish when he rubbed his eyes. 


CHAPTEE VII. 


A NICE PEOSPECT AHEAD. 

To begin with, there was a fire burning close 
by, sending out a cheery light, by means of 
which the Egyptian darkness which they had 
considered so dense, was dissipated, at least in 
that immediate vicinity. And that illumination 
disclosed quite a number of moving figures 
around them, while still others reclined upon 
the ground in easy attitudes, such as men as- 
sume when in a chosen camp. 

The swart faces of these fellows, together 
with their flowing garments, told Larry better 
than words could have done who they were. He 
had seen hosts of the same stripe, and while the 
fashion of their garments might differ as to 
pattern and color, he knew them to be followers 
of the False Prophet, lawless dervishes of the 
76 


OF THE NILE. 


77 


desert, the wild riders who had opposed Kitch- 
ener’s column with such fanatical zeal. 

When he had rubbed his eyes a second time 
Larry began to understand what must have hap- 
pened to them. The prowling enemy had by 
some accident discovered them as they slept, 
and had played this grim joke upon them, taking 
away their guns and proceeding to deliberately 
camp around the temporary bivouac. Even then 
no doubt some of the detachment must be keep- 
ing an eye on the two lads, and enjoying the 
blank look of amazement that took possession of 
Larry’s face when he discovered the awful 
truth. It appeared that even these wild men of 
the sandy waste were capable of playing their 
little joke, showing that the sense of humor is 
not confined to civilized races. 

Larry’s first thought was in connection with 
his friend. The English boy would be greatly 
distressed at the astonishingly bad turn their 
fortunes had taken. Still, he must be told. So 
reaching out his hand he gently shook Sandy, 


78 YOUNG VOYAGERS 

who began to sit np, rubbing bis eyes, and mut- 
tering : 

^ ^ A beastly short night, old fellow. Seems to 
me IVe only been asleep an hour or so. WbaUs 
this? YouVe gone and made a fire*? time for 
breakfast! Ob, I remember, we have fish to 
fry; but who— what— my gracious!’’ 

Then bis eyes opened to their full capacity, 
as be stared around at the numerous pic- 
turesquely garbed sons of the Sahara, and bis 
breath fairly failed him for once. 

And, would you believe it! Larry actually 
grinned ! The countenance of bis comrade was 
so truly comical. Not that be saw anything 
funny in the situation itself, for he realized that 
their position was exceedingly grave. 

Instinctively Sandy’s hand reached out until 
it came in contact with that of the staunch 
friend whom a good fortune had raised up when 
the time of greatest need came upon him; just 
as though he knew that in this hour also be must 
look to Larry for counsel and support. The 
weaker vessel must cling to the stronger. 


OF THE NILE. 


79 


^‘Courage, Sandy, my boy. It’s a bad state 
of atf airs, but I don’t see that we ought to give 
up the ship. Sure enough, we’re in the hands 
of the enemy all right, but that don’t mean we 
have to stay there. ’ ’ These cheery words Lad 
some effect. 

‘^That’s good of you to say so, and as long as 
I have you alongside I’m not going to throw 
up the sponge ; but how under the sun did they 
find us, and why camp around our little open air 
bedroom without giving us warning?” he asked, 
still confused, and wrestling with the puzzle. 

guess these chaps must be something of 
■wags, and seeing a splendid opening for a joke, 
took advantage of our heavy sleep to hem us in. 
They’re watching us now, and I think I can see 
the ghost of a grin on some of their ugly mugs, 
though they tell me these rascally freebooters of 
the desert seldom laugh.” 

say, Larry, what d’ye expect the beggars 
will do with us? They could have cut our 
throats as we lay, and the fact that they didn’t 


80 YOUNG VOYAGEES 

take advantage of their find, gives me a little 
hope.’’ 

^^I’m sure I don’t know, only from what I’ve 
been told, I imagine they may take a notion to 
carry us away back into the interior, where some 
of their cities are hidden, and there sell us to 
some head man for slaves. ’ ’ 

‘^That’s pleasant, now, I must say. To think 
of my coming out to this blasted country to 
write up its wonders, and incidentally investi- 
gate the interior workshop of various big croco- 
diles in the hope of finding Uncle Ted’s set of 
false teeth, only to work and work and work. 
Why, I could have done that at home all right. 
Can’t we find some way to give them the slip? 
I don’t fancy their looks a bit; and you know 
the old song says ‘Britons never, never, never 
will be slaves?’ Try and think of something, 
Larry, that’s a darling.” 

Such confidence he seemed to have in the in- 
genuity of the American lad ! Why, it was just 
as though all the other had to do was to make 
up his mind, and the thing was in a fair way of 


OF THE NH^E. 


81 


being accomplished. No donbt it was compli- 
mentary, bnt all the same it threw a big bnrden 
on the shoulders of the lone cruiser. 

^ ^ All right, ’ ’ he said, cheerily ; ‘ H ^11 tell them 
to get out of this right away, before we show our 
temper. But joking aside, Sandy, we must put 
up a bold front, and keep on the watch for a 
chance to levant. Somehow, the prospect of 
working for an old hadji back in the wilds, with 
a taste of the lash instead of piasters for your 
reward donT strike me as nice, and I warn you 
I’m going to kick against it with all my little 
might. But we might as well put as good a face 
on the matter as we can, and not let them see 
we’re scared, for these hard-riding fighting men 
have a peculiar contempt for any one they sus- 
pect of being a coward. ’ ’ 

^‘That’s good advice, and I’m going to live up 

to it, you see. I’ll jolly the whole house, and 

make ’em believe we’re just dying to know the 

folks at home, and join the tribe. Oh, I’m pretty 

good at that sort of thing. But don’t wait on 

me one blessed minute, remember; play your 
6 


82 


YOUNG' VOYAGERS 


little game for all iUs worth. Just think of it! 
Every hour we’re held up by these vagrants that 
old pirate of an Achmet is increasing the dis- 
tance between us. I fancy that when we do over- 
take the Honest John there won’t be much left 
of the delicious lot of grub I put aboard at 
Cairo. It makes me sad, really. ’ ’ 

Some of the swarthy desert warriors now be- 
gan to gather round them, no doubt eager to 
learn just who the boys might be, and what they 
were doing so far away from their kind. It 
mystified the dervishes not a little to note their 
youth. Had England taken to sending out her 
youngsters to engage the fetish-worshipers of 
the mysterious Soudan? 

There was one among them who could speak 
some English, though with a horrible slaughter 
of nouns and verbs— still, he could make himself 
understood, and accordingly he began to firo 
questions at Larry, whom they seemed somehow 
to judge must be the leading spirit of the little 
expedition. 

^'What do here, you1” he demanded, with a 


OF THE NILE. 


83 


gesture, for these fellows use their hands, like 
Jews, to back up their words. 

Shoot timseh/^ answered Larry, making out 
to glance along a gun-barrel. At the same time 
he touched a string of crocodile teeth which his 
friend dangled, as spoils of his various success- 
ful forays in the direction of the ferocious 
saurians. 

The fellow repeated this to the others, caus- 
ing grunts of surprise as well as of doubt to pass 
around. They evidently could not believe that 
any one would come such a great distance from 
Old England, simply to slaughter the rep- 
tiles with the expansive mouths. But then, of 
course they did not know anything about that 
coveted trophy once belonging to poor Uncle 
Ted, which it was Sandy ^s ambition to recover, 
nor would it he at all possible to make them un- 
derstand. Never a man of the hunch had ever 
set eyes on a set of artificial teeth. 

‘‘Come down river; you been with the ac- 
cursed army? Moloch take them!’’ continued 
the native lawyer, scowling fiercely. 


84 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


saw the soldiers, but have nothing to do 
with them. I am not English, hut American, 
from far across the sea. Some gentlemen quar- 
reled over me, one thinking I could go to Khar- 
toum and back to Cairo;— Musr you know— the 
other said not, and they bet much money. That 
is why I am here. Tell it to the sheik. ’ ’ 

The fellow who wore the green turban, prov- 
ing that he had at some time made the long pil- 
grimage to Mecca, listened closely, looked at 
Larry, and shook his head until his gray beard 
wagged, saying something quickly. 

Listen, son of darkness— Al-Easchid, our 
sheik, says your friend lose much money, for 
you return no more to Musr. They want such 
strong slaves as you at the fortified town in the 
heart of the desert. There you learn how to 
work the corn, to plant the cotton, to toil all 
day in the sun while your master lies in the 
shade. Thus you must pay for coming to the 
land where the lotus blows, the land that be- 
longs only to those who believe in the Prophet. ’ ’ 
He was a vindictive fellow, and evidently be- 


ON THE NILE. 


85 


lieved in thrusting pins into the butterflies he 
caught, figuratively speaking, if only for the 
cruel sport of seeing them flutter. Larry wanted 
to cultivate the good will of the venerable sheik, 
hut had a contempt for this dusky son of perdi- 
tion, who had doubtless at one time worked on 
some Nile boat, and thus acquired a smattering 
of the tongue of those he hated so cordially. 
Accordingly he scorned to he cast down by these 
vile threats, but made a gesture that implied 
contempt, at the same time uttering the Arab 
word that seems to stand for our expressive 
phrase ‘^get out’’— 

The fellow looked surprised, and disgusted; 
he threw up his job as interpreter, and slunk 
back among his fellows, amid general jeers, for 
they seemed to rather enjoy his discomfiture. 

Of course that terminated the interview, 
which, while short, had given the boys consider- 
able information concerning their probable fate. 

They’ve sure got it in for us,” said Sandy, 
dolefully. 


86 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


‘‘Well, there’s an old saying that when about 
to cook a rabbit, the first thing to do is get your 
rabbit,” remarked the Yankee boy, wisely. 

“Yes, but in our case it looks as if they had 
already caught a couple of bunnies ^air and 
square. ’ ’ 

“It’s one thing to catch, and another to 
hold, ’ ’ said Larry, with such significance in his 
voice that his companion cast a hasty glance 
around, to make certain that the fellow who un- 
derstood English was not near, and then bending 
his head close to his ally he whispered : 

“You’ve got a scheme in your head already, 
I do believe. Tell me what it is ; and I hope we 
can snap our fingers at that gloomy old prophet. 
Work at corn and cotton will we! Not if we 
know it, and we think we do ! ” 


CHAPTER VIII. 


AT THE SETTING OF THE MORNING STAR. 

Of course when Larry considered the question 
of escaping from the desert wanderers who had 
so unfortunately happened upon their little 
camp, he had in mind the boat, without which 
their case must be very nigh hopeless. 

True, these fierce, bronzed warriors, had 
horses ; such steeds as Arabs love ; but no doubt 
the beasts would resent being ridden by any one 
with a white skin, and even though superior 
horsemanship surmounted this difficulty, there 
were others. 

It was as much as one’s life was worth to 
venture into the desert, away from the Nile, 
without a guide who knew the mysterious se- 
crets of that sandy waste, where the dread 
sirocco waits to overwhelm the unfortunate, and 
87 


88 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


hungry beasts of prey roam, searching for food. 

^‘Listen, hut don’t turn your head to look just 
yet. By chance I saw a head raised above the 
sand-dune back of you. At first I thought it be- 
longed to one of these chaps, curious enough to 
spy on us ; and then it struck me there was some- 
thing different about that head-gear; besides, 
the fellow seemed so very anxious not to be 
seen by any one, that I have made up my mind 
he belongs to some organization that don’t hap- 
pen to bear any love for our friends here. Are 
you listening, Sandy?” 

There was little need of asking that, for the 
English lad’s eyes were as wide open as they 
could be, and he fairly gasped when replying : 

‘^Can it be possible, so quickly too! Why, 
one of us must have been born under a lucky 
star, Larry. Have you any idea who these 
others can be, and what they’ll do to the old 
sheik and his merry men?” 

‘‘Don’t know, unless they happen to be some 
of those mountain men of Abyssinia. You know 
about old King Menelik, and what fighters his 


OF THE NILE. 


89 


followers have proved themselves to he. Guess 
the Italians had their fingers burned when they 
tried to pull the Abyssinian chestnut out of the 
fire,’^ replied Larry, who heard all about that 
campaign from a soldier who had been in the 
unlucky expedition that was overwhelmed by 
the fighting men of the descendant of King 
Solomon. 

‘^Say, just how this thing is going to benefit 
us, I fail to see. Suppose those chaps do drop 
in on this camp, and there is a blessed rumpus ; 
why, I wouldnT be surprised if these beasts 
thought it their duty to knock us on the head 
kindly, right in the start, so that no one else 
could claim the reward they expect for us. ’ ’ 

‘^That^s something I won’t stand for, and I 
tell you right here that if there is an attack on 
the camp I’m going to flit out of this in a big 
hurry. ’ ’ 

‘‘That’s jolly good, but where shall we go to, 
old fellow?” asked Sandy, always ready to fall 
in with whatever his friend suggested. 

“Do you know where we hid the boat?” 


90 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


‘‘Yes, of course, but d^ye suppose these fel- 
lows have found it yetU^ 

“They haven’t had time to hunt yet, though 
in the morning I guess they’d unearth the craft 
right away. You see they know we must have 
come here either on horses or in a boat, and as 
there seems to be no signs of animals about I 
suppose they reckon on the other. It don’t mat- 
ter a particle, if only this little jamboree I’m 
hoping for, comes about.” 

“All right, how can we get ready for a sudden 
dropping off?” demanded the English boy, 
eagerly, since he could not for the life of him 
take any interest in the prospect of working 
under the tropical sun to please some lazy Arab 
master. It was bad enough to have his ddha- 
beah run off with, including all the things he had 
brought along to add to the comfort of his little 
expedition, without going to such extremes. 

“First study the conditions, and by degrees 
keep edging over toward the river. Just as soon 
as the first alarm breaks out you follow me with 


OF THE NILE. 


91 


all your might and main, for 1^11 he doing some 
tall sprinting just then.’^ 

A few more directions Larry thought fit to 
give. He was as sagacious as a general making 
preparations for battle, so that when the crisis 
came every man would know what was expected 
of him. From time to time he reported how 
things were going. The spy had watched the 
camp for quite a little while, and then vanished. 
Doubtless he had taken all the mental notes he 
thought necessary, and had gone to report to his 
chief, who, with the balance of the roving hand, 
must he in hiding further down the river. Would 
anything come of it all? 

Sandy was inclined to he skeptical, but the 
American lad on the other hand knew more 
about the bitter enmities that prevail among the 
tribes of the desert, and how they never lose an 
opportunity to deal each other a staggering blow 
when the chance arises. So that Larry was loud 
in his declaration that there would he something 
stirring ere a great while. 

How slow the time passed. A dozen times 


92 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


Sandy looked up at a certain star that hovered 
above the horizon, and which seemed in his im- 
patience to he standing still ; just as that ancient 
worthy Joshua commanded the sun to remain in 
sight until he could finish up the dwellers in the 
land of Canaan with whom his warriors were 
engaged in deadly battle. All the same it was 
slowly hut surely heading for the almost level 
sky-line, and even Sandy admitted finally that 
it had almost reached the dropping off stage. 
He was not the only one to whom that bright orb 
was of interest. 

‘‘I think, said Larry, in his comrade’s ear, 
‘Gt will be apt to come if at all, about the time 
that fellow goes to rest. I understand these 
dwellers on the desert have pretty much the 
same ideas of certain things as did our old 
American Indians. At any rate, they know 
when men as a rule are apt to sleep the sound- 
est, and plan to strike then. ’ ’ 

‘‘What time d’ye suppose it is now?” queried 
the other, with a deep sigh. 

‘ ‘ Oh, I guess about four o ’clock or somewhere 


OF THE NILE. 


93 


about there. We can look for dawn in two 
hours, say. I just hope it will find a couple of 
pilgrims I know of, jogging along contentedly 
down this blessed old river in my bully boat, 
ehr^ 

Sandy said such a prospect was according to 
his fancy, and that he felt as though he could 
be fairly happy if allowed to once more take 
up the chase of the fugitive dahabeah, which 
somehow seemed to be forever on his mind, 
though much of his apparent concern about the 
craft may have been assumed for he was quite 
fond of joking. 

The bright star now hovered just above the 
dividing line. ^ ^ She ’s going to drop, ’ ’ remarked 
Larry, trying to control his voice, for he would 
not have his comrade feel that he was quivering 
with suspense, when he appeared outwardly so 
cool. Sandy gave a big sigh when the star sud- 
denly vanished. 

^^Now,^’ said he eagerly, ‘'bring on your Phil- 
istines. You see these fellows are off their guard 
and pretty much asleep.’’ 


94 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


‘^Oh, they’ve got sentries posted, don’t you 
fear ; and besides, notice how that beast of an in- 
terpreter keeps one of his lamps open, fastened 
on us, I’ve heard of such a thing as sleeping 
with one eye open before, but this is the first 
time I’ve ever seen it.” 

‘‘Ugh!” whispered Sandy, “he makes me 
shiver. Why does he stare that way *? ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Can ’t help it, I guess. Fact is, I ’ve a notion 
the fellow has a glass eye ; you know he ’s been 
among the English and French, and may have 
taken a fancy to decorating himself out that 
way,” answered Larry, with a chuckle. 

“You relieve me, for he was making me un- 
easy now, I give you my word. As you say, I do 
believe it is an artificial eye he’s got. What a 
goggle it is, to be sure. But I say, Larry, don’t 
you think now it ’s high time something was-hap- 
pening! I don’t see how I can stand this much 
longer. ’ ’ 

Larry might have asked him what he thought 
to do about it, but he was hardly feeling in the 
humor for joking, since his own nerves had been 


OF THE NILE. 


95 


wrought up to some extent by the situation. 
The two lads lay there counting the seconds as 
it were, and awaiting the first sign of the storm 
which Larry had so confidently predicted. Even 
his assurance was beginning to wane, as time 
crept on without anything coming to pass, and 
he found himself experiencing the sensation of 
having been a false prophet. Sandy was fret- 
ting. 

say, old fellow,’’ he muttered. 

^‘Well, what’s on your mind?” asked the 
other, though he understood just how the im- 
patient English youngster felt. 

‘^Suppose they fail us?” 

^‘Well, it’s just possible, I’m beginning to 
fear.” 

^^Now, isn’t there something else we could do? 
Crawl off in a pinch, and make for that blessed 
old boat?” ventured Sandy, hopefully. 

^H’m afraid not, much as I’d like to try it. 
I’ve seen sentries here and there, and they keep 
an eye on us all the while I tell you, so we ’d like 
as not be nabbed before we’d gone ten feet. 


96 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


Perhaps they’d just like something of that kind 
to happen, to give them a chance to stick ns like 
pigs with the miserable old spears they carry. 
I guess our best move is, not to move at all un- 
less what I still hope for comes about.” 

Then Sandy groaned some more and most dis- 
mally, so that one of the men on guard came in 
to see if he were dying. Finding the two pris- 
oners apparently all right the brute satisfied his 
conscience by giving the unhappy Sandy a vig- 
orous kick that caused him to grunt in yet an- 
other key. 

‘^I’d like to get a bead on that imp some time 
with my crocodile gun,” he whimpered, in 
mingled anger and pain, as the guard strode 
back to his former post. 

^‘Well, I hope you marked him, because you 
may get a chance yet,” said Larry. 

^‘Eh, what’s that? Isn’t our hope all gone? 
D’ye see anything coming. Sister Ann? Tell 
me, Larry, that’s a good fellow!” whispered 
the boy from London. 

‘‘Look just beyond us, and what do you see 


OF THE NILE. 


97 


snugly propped np against that gnarled old 
tree ? ’ ’ 

‘‘Gnns to be snre ! Yes, onr gnns too, as sure 
as I live. Now I see what you mean. On the 
way out we are to snatch ^em up. A clever idea 
to be sure, and I’m proud of you, Larry, old 
fellow.” 

‘ ‘ Keep that until some other time, for I really 
think there’s something on the jump now, com- 
ing this way. Put your ear to the ground, and 
its easy to catch it; horses too! and quite a 
bunch of the beasts ! ” 

‘‘Yes, yes, I hear it too, and of course it’s the 
long expected attack. I’m all screwed up in 
a knot waiting to spring to my feet. Be sure 
and give the word when you’re ready, and then 
it’s a hop, a skip and a jump for us. My, how 
like approaching thunder it sounds. The sen- 
tries have caught it now, for just listen to ’em 
bark. Don’t hang fire too long, dear Larry, 
please. ’ ’ 

Things had indeed begun to take on a sudden 
' 7 


98 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


change, and the silence that np to now had 
wrapped the camp in its solemn mantle was a 
thing of the past. 


CHAPTER IX. 

WHEN KOGUES FALL OUT. 

The sentinels had given the alarm as they 
came flying into camp, and from the ground up 
sprang the followers of the old sheik, snatching 
for their weapons instinctively, as though they 
knew what this sort of thing meant. 

Doubtless some of them had before now ex- 
perienced the delights of a night attack on 
camp, since it must be a frequent happening 
among the rival tribes of the great Soudan. 
Since the alarm had been given, those who were 
riding straight down upon the camp seemed to 
consider that it was their bounden duty to have 
a voice in the matter, for they suddenly burst 
out into a series of shouts, well calculated to 
make the flesh tingle, and the blood run cold 
with apprehension. 


99 


100 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


Larry knew it was time. He tugged at the 
arm of his comrade, who seemed lost in bewil- 
derment over the strange spectacle that was for 
the first time being acted before his wondering 
eyes. That was quite sufficient for the English 
lad, who immediately touched the spring he had 
been speaking about, and bounded to his feet 
like a jack-in-the-box. 

Their hope lay in the confusion that must of 
necessity exist when such an unannounced at- 
tack was made ; and under cover of this, it was 
Larry’s intention to snatch up their guns and 
make a bee-line for the spot where the boat was 
lying among those blessed rushes. 

A few bounds carried them to where the guns 
lay so invitingly. The clamor had increased 
to deafening proportions, with two score of lusty 
lunged sons of the desert trying to outdo each 
other in making a booming racket. 

Though our boys must of necessity have felt 
considerably worked up by all this confusion 
and turmoil, fortunately neither of them lost 
his wits, though truth to tell the mainstay was 



THE KETTLE TILTED UP, AND THERE AROSE A FRIGHTFUL SHRIEK. 

(Page 156.) 




OF THE NILE. 


101 


Larry, who had always been accustomed to de- 
pending upon himself in time of need. 

If their captors had arranged the disposition 
of the guns to fully agree with their wishes in 
the matter, they could hardly have improved it, 
for the coveted weapons were right in line with 
the quarter to which they were in full flight, 
and all they had to do was to seize them when 
passing. The touch of the firearms gave both a 
feeling of renewed assurance, since now they 
were in a position to defend themselves in case 
affairs reached a point of desperation. 

Larry was not content to plunge along in the 
dark. He wanted to know just how matters 
were progressing back yonder, and after hav- 
ing come into possession of his gun turned his 
head for an observation. It was well he did. 

What should he see bearing down upon them 
at full sail but that same reprobate who had 
scraped up somewhat of a smattering of Eng- 
lish as she is spoken in the land of the be- 
nighted Egyptians, his humous flying in the 
wind his own passage created, and a tremendous 


102 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


yataghan of Algerian manufacture waving 
above bis head, by which he would indicate that 
he was out for business. 

Somehow Larry was not much alarmed, since 
there seemed to be but the one pursuer, the 
balance of the flock huddling in a bunch to re- 
sist boarders, under the inspiration of their an- 
cient chieftain, the valorous sheik ; who, judging 
from his honorable scars, had been in many a 
little scrimmage of this sort, in times that were 
past. 

The boys were making all the haste they could 
to give their late captors French leave, and in 
this several things fell to their advantage. In 
the first place the newcomers were swooping 
down upon the camp from a side line, because 
the scrubby and gnarled trees otfered the least 
resistance in that quarter ; and then again, their 
precious boat lay up-stream instead of down. 

Now Larry had never fired at a human being, 
before this momentous trip up and down the his- 
toric Nile, and he could not take anything like 
pleasure in the thought of knocking over even 


OF THE NILE. 


103 


so ugly a ruffian as this one-eyed pirate of the 
free desert ; hnt all the same he was a sturdy lad 
with a determined way about him, and under 
such provocation he could not see anything else 
for him but to let fly and try to trip the fellow 
up, at least by winging him. 

They were by this time half way to the spot 
where the boat lay among the rushes, hidden 
from view even as was Moses of old upon this 
same stream, many, many hundreds of years 
ago. From the camp there came a fearful snarl 
of noises, just as though a few dozen big tom- 
cats had come together for a general melee; 
though the bellowing smash of many a long-bar- 
reled gun told that all this discord was brought 
about by human agencies. Sandy afterward ad- 
mitted that the only thing it seemed to remind 
him of was a little disturbance he had witnessed 
at Donnybrook Fair, across the Irish Sea. 

There was old Single-Eye, as Larry dubbed 
the interpreter, slashing along after them at 
a most disgustingly fast pace, so that it became 
evident they could never hope to bundle into 


104 


YOUNG VOYAGEKS 


the boat and get clear of the reeds ere he over- 
hauled them. He loomed up in the semi-darkness 
like some giant of olden days, and was appar- 
ently fully determined to give them all the 
trouble that lay in his power. 

^‘All right,’’ thought the lad, as he set his 
teeth hard together ; ‘ Gf you are bent on having 
a good time I might just as well accommodate 
you. I’ve brought down deer, panther, and 
even the lordly moose ; guess I ought to manage 
one lone Arab.” Then he threw his gun up to 
his shoulder. 

The fellow must have detected the action, 
for he gave a shrill shout, as though seeking to 
distract the boy’s aim. He might as well have 
saved his wind, for Larry was not the one to let 
a little thing like that disturb him, once he had 
set his mind upon an object. So he fired, and 
the wearer of the flowing burnous tripped up, 
falling in a heap with many shrieks, in which 
the vengeance of Allah was called down upon the 
heads of those two venturesome lads who had 
contributed so much to his pain. 


OF THE NILE. 


105 


Sandy looked around to see what was delay- 
ing his friend, and was just in time to see the 
writhing figure of the Prophet ^s favorite, as 
he tried to hug his knees, into which had come 
the numbness consequent upon a gunshot 
wound. 

‘‘Glory! did you kill the poor old beggar, 
Larry r’ he exclaimed, as once more they began 
pegging away toward the bulrushes. 

“Rats! I only peppered him in the leg, just 
enough to keep him where he belongs ; hut here 
we are, old fellow!’’ 

“And the boat’s gone!” gasped Sandy, in 
dire dismay. 

“Oh, I guess not! You’re only looking in the 
wrong pocket, that’s all. Here she is, nice and 
sound, and right side up with care. Tumble in, 
my hearty, 'and we’ll say ‘goodbye’ to this sec- 
tion of the country,” said the hoy from the Pine 
Tree State. 

Once free of the clump of rushes that filled 
the little cove near the edge of the stunted trees, 
they kept on paddling, heading for the further 


106 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


side of the river, which lay in darkness and 
silence. There was quite enough going on in 
the direction of their late camp, for the des- 
perate battle seemed at its height, and if noise 
could be taken as an indication with regard to 
what was being done, the rival warrior bands 
must be exterminating one another. Still, Larry 
had been told by those who ought to know, that 
there was more noise than execution about these 
comings together of hostile tribes of the Soudan, 
and when the smoke of such battles cleared away 
it would be found there were not an alarming 
number of casualties on either side. 

The current of the river hurried the boat 
along. Both boys kept a keen lookout for any- 
thing suspicious, and once there was a splashing 
in the water that gave them a start; but after 
they had hurriedly snatched up their guns and 
tried to locate the disturbance, it suddenly 
ceased. 

Sandy was of the opinion that it had been 
caused by some old moss-back of a crocodile, 
disturbed in his sleep by the racket on shore, 


OF THE NILE. 


107 


and showing his disgust by several furious 
sweeps of his serrated tail as he sailed away; 
on the other hand Larry inclined toward the 
hippopotamus theory. 

Both of them were very glad when they found 
themselves below the scene of riot; for while 
the confusion seemed just as furious as ever, 
there was a possibility of its coming to a sudden 
stop at any moment; and' if their late captors 
were the ones to come out ahead, they might 
think it worth while to make a search for the 
prisoners who had slipped through their fingers 
while the fight was on. So they made the pad- 
dles fly, aiding the current and causing the boat 
to dart downstream with considerable force. 

Long the sound of warfare came floating to 
their ears with the night breeze, though grad- 
ually growing fainter as they continued to put 
more and more space between. It was a sound 
neither of the lads was likely to forget; and 
when seated before some ruddy blaze on a win- 
ter’s night, enjoying the comforts of home, 
Sandy was apt to start up and listen, while a 


108 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


smile crept over his face, as something very 
familiar came to his ears with the moan of the 
north wind around the comers of the old English 
house. 

By the time the gray of dawn began to appear 
in the east the last vestige of battle had gone, 
and only the customary sounds of the wide river 
came to their listening ears, as they paddled 
listlessly along, hungry and weary. 


CHAPTER X. 


GAME AHEAD. 

For a wonder a favorable breeze sprang up 
with the coming of daylight, and as this was 
such a rare occurrence, Larry could not resist 
the temptation to make use of his sail. The sen- 
sation was very comfortable, Sandy declared, 
as he rested his tired muscles and curled up in 
the bow of the little craft. When, a short time 
later, his friend asked some question, and re- 
ceiving no answer bent forward to investigate, 
the English lad was fast asleep. Larry smiled 
but made no etfort to awaken him. 

^‘He^s not so used to roughing it as I am; 
and he seems a very decent sort of a chap too. 
I’ll just run with this glorious wind as long as 
it comes, and when it drops out why that will be 
the time to land for a bite. ’ ’ 


109 


110 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


So he mused as he watched the shore on either 
side and noted how clear the atmosphere seemed. 
Already it was warming up, and before long the 
sun would he sending down his fierce rays as 
usual, fairly baking the desert. 

The nice breeze suddenly ceased, just as the 
sun peeped above the horizon, and true to his 
promise Larry turned in toward shore. 

‘ ‘ I say ! Ahoy there, Sandy ! ^ ^ he called. 

It was ludicrous the way the other bobbed his 
head up and began to blink in the glare of the 
rising sun. 

‘‘Are they all gone? Was it only a dream, or 
were we really in the hands of the dervishes?’^ 
he exclaimed, sorely puzzled. 

“ThaUs all right; we were, as sure as you 
live, but they didnT hold us, and here we are, 
right side up with care, and hungry to boot. 
I’m going to land, and have a bite as well as a 
stretch. ’ ’ 

“I think I must have been pretty nearly 
asleep,” remarked Sandy, calmly. 

His comrade laughed at that. “Well, yes, 


OF THE mLE. 


Ill 


youVe been in that condition for about two- 
tbirds of an hour. And while yon were dead to 
the world we Ve made something like eight miles 
or so, thanks to that gentle wind, and the cur- 
rent!’^ he said. 

^‘That’s fine. Say, yon haven T seen any- 
thing of a stray dahabeah aronnd here, have 
yon? One that carries a red slash along her 
sides, and is christened the Queen of the 'Nile, 
Becanse IVe lost a boat, yon know, and I think 
we may be happening on her one of these days ! ’ ’ 

^‘No, she hasn’t tnrned np yet, thongh I prom- 
ise to keep an eye ont for her. Jnmp ashore, 
Sandy, and pnll her nose np, well and good. 
Phew! bnt it’s going to be a scorcher soon, I tell 
yon, my boy. I never want to see the land of 
the Mahdi again, as long as I live. ’ ’ 

‘^That’s me too. Crocodiles are all very well, 
bnt the man who wonld give np the delights of 
Old England and come to this blistering conn- 
try jnst to shoot the ngly creatnres, as Uncle 
Ted did, mnst be a little crack-brained, if I do 


112 


YOUNG YOYAGEES 


say it who shouldn’t. How’s that ! Far enough 
up on the hankU’ 

‘‘First rate ! Now help me out with the grub 
chest and we’ll have a cup of Java to refresh 
ourselves.” 

“Well, I really think we deserve it, after what 
we did last night. D’ye know, I can’t help 
thinking of that one-eyed old sinner. Seems to 
me I must have met him down in Cairo, for 
there was something mighty familiar about his 
old phiz. It doesn’t matter anyhow, for I don’t 
think we stand much show of running across 
that crowd again, do you 1 ’ ’ 

“Hardly, even if they did come out of the 
fight in fairly decent shape. Now, here’s a few 
bits of wood which I poked into the boat when 
we had the chance; they may make enough fire 
to boil the amber juice, and that’s all we ask. 
Start it going while I look after some other 
things.” Their breakfast was perhaps lacking 
in variety, but nevertheless it seemed fully ap- 
preciated, judging from the way in which they 
ravenously devoured the same. 


OF THE NILE. 


113 


There was no use remaining on land longer 
that they could help, for the heat was getting 
terrific there. Out on the water the reflection 
was less violent, and it was always possible to 
dip their hands into the river, thus cooling their 
feverish blood. Accordingly they put out again, 
making preparations for a long and weary day. 
The sail was utilized after a fashion which Lar- 
ry’s inventive ingenuity had conceived, so that 
it acted as a species of awning, sheltering the 
two boys more or less from the solar heat. 

They floated along. Now and then one of the 
voyagers mustered up enough ambition to take 
hold and paddle a spell, but enthusiasm soon 
failed, and he was glad to lie down again, after 
dipping his arms in the river. 

Larry kept in the stern, while the other 
haunted the bow, ever and anon shading his eyes 
with his palm and looking over the glittering ex- 
panse of water, as if hopeful of discovering 
some sign of the missing dahabeah. 

It would seem that hope kept a pretty good 
hold in Sandy’s heart, since even frequent dis- 
8 


114 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


appointments failed to discourage him. Larry 
set him down as a stayer, and wondered if that 
were not the secret of Englishmen’s success in 
life— the fact that they refused to give up, no 
matter what obstacles arose to impede their 
progress. 

It was a frightfully long day. A dozen times 
Sandy expressed himself as satisfied he had had 
quite enough of the game, and that at the very 
first opportunity he meant to go back to the 
home-land with its comforts. 

^‘If the spirit of unrest ever takes hold of 
me again, you can just understand that it’s go- 
ing to be a hunt for the North Pole next time 
—no more of torrid regions for me, thank you 
kindly. Why, I’m roasted and baked and par- 
boiled all in one, and I doubt if this tan ever 
does come off my poor face,” he said, with an 
expression that caused Larry to grin. 

Sandy had indeed had a serious time of it, 
for his complexion was so fair, that for some 
weeks after striking Egypt the skin kept peel- 
ing off in fiakes, and it was only of late that he 


OF THE NHLE. 


115 


actually began to get brown ; whereas the other 
lad looked like an Indian, and suffered little 
from that score. However, both of them wel- 
comed the setting of that blazing orb from which 
they had suffered so much. 

Before the sun had quite dropped out of sight, 
Larry stood up in the bow to take an observa- 
tion. This was done as gravely as though he 
had the care of an ocean liner upon his hands ; 
but it was important to his peace of mind. 

As far as he could see over the waste of sand, 
there was nothing moving, save in one quarter, 
where a little cloud of dust told of possibly some 
caravan heading for the river. 

It had been a day strangely devoid of inci- 
dent, for as a usual thing Larry sighted mer- 
chants or bands of roving Arabs, at some time 
between the rising of the sun and the going 
down thereof. 

‘^Now please take a shy down the old river, 
and see if there happens to be anything in my 
line in sight,’’ suggested Sandy, who had much 


116 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


faith in the eyesight of the lad Tvho was accus- 
tomed to life in the woods. 

Larry did so cheerfully enough, but not with 
the least idea that he might in any way be re- 
warded for his trouble. It so chanced that the 
conditions were favorable for a long look ahead, 
for the river made several turns, and one who 
knew where to cast the eye might follow its sin- 
uous curves for some miles. Thus he amused 
himself for several minutes, meanwhile report- 
ing his non-success to the eager listener close by. 

‘‘Don’t seem to be anything doing, sorry to 
say ! The blessed old stream takes a knot or 
two below here, and you can follow its course 
easily. I’m looking now at a spot which is I 
suppose all of three miles away from us by 
water, yet not more than one as the crow flies. 
Now, if— hello!” 

“Oh, you’ve seen something at last— tell me 
what it is— where it is I” exclaimed Sandy, im- 
mediately filled with zeal ; and he hugged the el- 
bow of his friend while endeavoring to feast his 
eyes upon the object in question. 


OF THE NILE. 


117 


‘‘Look straight ahead— follow the line of our 
how— notice that clump of reeds over yonder- 
well, to the left of that a bit— looks to me like 
the masts of a Nile houseboat, with the sail hang- 
ing in a straight line with us. There, I surely 
saw a flutter as a trifle of wind hit it— yes, 
there’s a boat laid up alongside the shore, all 
right, Sandy!” 

“Bully! now you see the reward of my con- 
fidence. It isn’t every fellow who could have 
kept believing this snarl would come out all 
right sooner or later.” 

“But hold on, there are other boats on this 
upper stretch of the Nile. You may he disap- 
pointed; don’t feel too sure about it, my hoy,” 
remarked the more cautious Yankee. 

But Sandy would not admit that there could 
possibly be any mistake— it was the Honest 
John, as he delighted to call the dahaheah, to a 
certainty! He claimed to recognize the shape 
of the long spar upon which the sail was bent, 
and even listened intently in hopes of catching 
the sound of the faithless Achmet’s queer, rasp- 


118 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


ing voice, which, as he knew from experience, 
carried so far across the waters. In this how- 
ever he was disappointed. 

‘^Now,’^ he said, turning with a beaming face 
upon his friend; ‘^what shall we do about it? 
If that’s my boat I want to take possession of 
her again, and this very night. ’ ’ 

‘^Correct,” assented Larry, nodding; ‘‘and 
for one I’m ready to help to the best of my abil- 
ity. But we must go about the thing decently. 
No need of any hurry, with the night before us. 
I guess the boat will stay just where she is, at 
least until the breeze comes with the morning, 
for few of these old Nile captains want to sail 
in the night. You see there are too many snags 
in the river, and an upset is a ticklish thing, with 
crocodiles hanging around as thick as bees, 
ready for a meal. ’ ’ 

“Oh, I’ll do whatever you say. All I want 
is your help to regain my own. I knew as soon 
as I met you, Larry my boy, that I could count 
on you. If you’d only give over this ridiculous 
cruise and come on board to enjoy the comforts 


OF THE NILE. 


119 


I have there, that is if those rascally pirates 
have left anything hy this time. ’ ’ 

Larry smiled and shook his head. Can’t 
think of it! I’ve pnt my hand to the plow, and 
she’s got to go. I’m on the homeward voyage, 
and I have pretty good hope of making port in 
decent shape.” 

At the same time he was thinking whether his 
mission could be one half so ridiculous as that 
which had brought this young Englishman out 
to Egypt in search of a certain, possibly mythi- 
cal, crocodile that had eaten his uncle. 


CHAPTER XI. 


STILL-HUNTING. 

‘‘I suppose we land for a bit, and wait till 
night swoops down on usT’ said Sandy, inquir- 
ingly ; and he used that expressive word with a 
full knowledge of its meaning, for in this coun- 
try of the Nile it seems as though the sun sud- 
denly drops out of sight like a plummet, and 
darkness covers the scene as with a sable 
blanket. It is a swoop with a vengeance ! 

‘ ^ Of course we ’d better not be in too much of 
a hurry to go prowling around yonder until the 
fellows have settled down for the night. How 
big a crew does old Achmet carry!” asked cau- 
tious Larry, accustomed to still-hunting tactics 
in the wilds of his native State. 

‘‘Seven all told, without counting the cook.” 

“Same old class of rilf-ratf I suppose, sail- 


120 


OF THE NILE. 


121 


ors after the manner of the fresh water Nile 
types, but petty thieves, every blessed one. I 
mean, there doesn’t happen to be any among the 
number you could count on to give us a helping 
hand if it came to a tug-of-war 

Sandy nodded eagerly. ‘‘Why, yes, there’s 
one fellow who seemed to take a most extraor- 
dinary fancy to me on the voyage up the river. 
I think I was flattered by his attentions, and did 
him a few little favors, for which he seemed 
grateful. Perhaps Don Pedro, as I called him 
because I couldn ’t get the hang of his real Arab 
name, might rally to our side in case I gave him 
the tip.” 

“Well, if that be so it would reduce their num- 
ber to six with the captain. Pretty heavy odds, 
but a good deal depends on how we make a 
start.” 

“Then there’s the cook.” 

“What, d’ye expect he’d amount to anything 
in a rumpus ! I warrant you had him keyed up 
pretty well, with fat tips for services rendered. 


122 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


Can we count on the galley-slave for hot water 
or something of that sortU^ laughed Larry. 

‘‘You just wait and see. I’m beginning to 
realize that it does pay to treat those under you 
with a certain amount of favor. Four against 
six isn’t so bad, considering the style of the six. 
I think by a few fat promises of reward when 
we reach Cairo again, I may win others over, 
and Achmet finding himself deserted must sur- 
render.” 

It was evident that the English lad had con- 
siderable confidence in his persuasive powers; 
also a strong belief in the pull of a golden sov- 
ereign with these scurvy Arabs. 

They had landed by this time. It did not mat- 
ter on which side of the river they ate their 
scanty supper, the main object being to keep 
quiet until it was time to drop down stream, 
and try conclusions with those who had eloped 
with the houseboat. 

“Have you any idea whether they are on this 
side or the other?” asked Sandy, while they 


OF THE NILE. 


123 


busied themselves with a dry supper, to be 
washed down with a few drafts from the river. 

<<Why, yes, I judge from the location of the 
spars that they have tied up or anchored close 
to this same shore. I may be wrong, but wait 
and see,^’ replied the Yankee boy, confi- 
dently. 

His companion never doubted it a particle, 
for, though their acquaintance had not been of 
many days ’ duration, he had seen evidences that 
convinced him of Larry ^s claim to a wonderfully 
keen vision. Those who live in cities, where the 
usual range of sight is limited, wonder at the 
astonishing ability of mountaineers or dwellers 
on the prairies to recognize objects miles away 
that appear like dots to them. This was proven 
many times during the Boer war, when the na- 
tives, perched on a convenient kopje, were able 
to distinguish the characteristics of troops so 
far away that to the ordinary eye they appeared 
a mere jumble of moving khaki. 

Y^hile they munched their frugal supper the 
night ‘^wrapped river and desert in its black 


124 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


cloak, and pinned it with silver stars, as Sandy, 
who was given a trifle to poetry, remarked. 

That was another way in which the two lads 
differed, Larry being exceedingly practical, as 
became one who had to rnh up against the world 
for a living, and whose sole ambition at present 
was to acquire knowledge. True, he loved the 
solemn woods, and was in sympathy with fin, fur 
and feather as found there; hut the necessity 
of providing for his wants made a stern reality 
out of what seemed only a lark to that favorite 
of fortune, Sandy Jones. 

As usual, with the absence of the sun the 
heated air began to cool, which brought great 
relief to our young voyagers. Only for this pe- 
culiarity there would be no chance of existence 
in the African deserts, either for man or beast ; 
as it is, the cool night invigorates the system 
for another siege of fierce heat. We have pretty 
much the same characteristics in our midsum- 
mer weather, if you have noticed. 

Having finished eating, the hoys stretched 
themselves out on the ground, so as to relieve 


OF THE NILE. 


125 


their tired muscles, cramped from long sitting 
in the boat ; and as was natural they talked upon 
many subjects. Though, so far as they knew, 
there was not a living soul within some miles of 
their halting-place, a natural caution caused 
them to lower their voices almost to a whisper 
while they chatted. 

Sandy had long ago told everything that had 
ever come to pass in the limited span of his 
young life. Really, outside of the strange legacy 
bequeathed by the. terms of TJncle Ted’s will, 
little of unusual moment had ever occurred to 
make his life seem different from the average 
English lad’s. He had known a few terms in a 
boarding-school, played cricket and football 
with his chums, and yearned to travel if the 
chance ever came, which it did very unex- 
pectedly. 

With Larry, circumstances made his life 
story one that was full of ups and downs with 
plenty of hard work thrown in, and not a little 
of adventure also. He was not confiding by 
nature, though perfectly willing to tell about his 


126 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


trials of the past, together with the few little 
triumphs that had floated his way. 

Sandy never wearied of listening to what his 
friend had to say about such things as had hap- 
pened to him. He wondered whether he would 
he satisfied to let Larry pass out of his life com- 
pletely, when this voyage on the Nile came to a 
close ; and made up his mind that it should not 
he so if he could help it ; for he had taken a sud- 
den and intense liking to the sturdy Maine hoy, 
and would only too gladly have assisted him, out 
of his bountiful means, did he not know that 
Larry would positively decline such aid with- 
out the means of giving something back. 

Considerable time passed while they talked. 
It was evident that the patience of Sandy had 
almost reached its limit. This showed in vari- 
ous ways, and not wishing to hold him back un- 
necessarily Larry began to make a move, rising 
to his feet, and commencing to carry back to the 
boat what few articles they had landed. 

‘‘Bully!” That was Sandy’s favorite word 
with which he expressed his satisfaction, no mat- 


OF THE NILE. 


127 


ter what had come to pass; with him it meant 
volumes, and the way he let it break loose al- 
ways amused his companion, it was so full of 
emphasis. Between them they soon had the 
boat ready to leave. 

‘^What’s the plan of campaign?’^ asked the 
mate of the expedition, feeling that it were bet- 
ter he should he fully posted before they reached 
a point so near the enemy that talking even in 
whispers might he dangerous. 

We ’ll have to be governed by circumstances, 
I guess. Anyhow, we can drop down to a point 
as near the big boat as we think safe, and then 
find out how best to work it. If they’re tied up 
to the shore with an anchor stuck in the bank, 
what’s going to prevent us from hoarding? On 
the other hand, if the Honest John lies out in the 
stream, we ’ll have to use our own boat to pull up 
alongside. Wait and see,” was the answer 
Larry gave. 

They were soon afloat again. With the pros- 
pect of exciting events taking place presently, 
it was only natural the hoys should show some 


128 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


nervousness; even old campaigners are not al- 
ways free from this fault when conditions be- 
gin to concentrate. Nevertheless, Larry man- 
aged so well to keep his feelings under control 
that the other set himself to the task of follow- 
ing suit, realizing the value of coolness when in 
a pinch. 

The current seemed unusually slow to the im- 
patient Sandy, and yet there was little if any 
difference in the speed with which the great 
river flowed between its banks ; of course where 
it narrowed and there were rocks, as might be 
expected it dropped down the descent with more 
of the character of rapids. 

The Maine boy kept a careful lookout, and re- 
mained within reaching distance of the shore, 
knowing that they might suddenly desire to 
land, and it would not be wise to find themselves 
compelled to make a great splash with paddles. 
His eyes roved many times upward, seeking the 
clear sky just where it rose above the land ; but 
it was not because he was thinking how bright 
the stars shone in the heavens, or what wonder- 


OF THE NILE. 


129 


fill things could be learned about the far-off 
worlds by one whom fortune allowed the oppor- 
tunities of study that up to now bad been denied 
him. He was looking for signs of those tower- 
ing spars with which all Nile daJiaheahs are 
burdened, each of which has a slant that gives 
the sail a pigeon-wing shape, or on the lateen 
order. And he did not look thus in vain. 

Sandy heard him give a sudden low excla- 
mation, and at the same time he began to shove 
the boat in toward the shore. Thanks to the 
precautions which had been taken this was 
not a hard task, and in less than a minute the 
nose of the craft bumped against land. Silently 
the two lads debarked, and then, each taking 
hold, the river craft was drawn up high enough 
to prevent any chance of her being floated off by 
action of the current. 

Sandy rubbed his hands together as if they 
were cold, but truth to tell it was only a nervous 
action on his part ; this sort of thing being such 
a novelty in his experience, that he fairly trem- 
bled with anticipation. In vain had the more 
9 


130 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


careful Larry warned him that perhaps after all 
the dahabeah which was now the object of their 
regard might prove to he a strange craft, and 
not the one in which he had so deep an interest ; 
Sandy felt his pursuit had not been in vain, 
and professed to have full confidence in their 
success. And now they were in a position to 
prove the facts one way or another, for looking 
down stream even the novice could detect the 
tapering spars outlined again the starlit sky. 


CHAPTER XII. 


A PRIZE IN GREAT DEMAND. 

‘‘Now, I’m going to ask yon to stay by the 
boat while I take a little turn over there, and see 
what’s in the wind. I’ll be back in a jiffy,” said 
Larry. 

Now, the English lad did not quite fancy hav- 
ing his friend vanish so completely, but he 
understood the wisdom of the move, and that as 
a greenhorn he would not be of much value until 
the woods boy had ascertained just how the 
land lay. So he sat down again, and kept his 
eyes fixed upon that bow of promise in the sky, 
under which all his hopes rested. 

Not once did he remove his gaze from that 
quarter; one would think from the pertinacity 
of his scrutiny that there was danger of the deli- 
cate tracery vanishing into thin space if he so 


132 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


mucli as lost it for a second. And as he sat 
there he suddenly began to sniff the atmosphere. 

‘‘Tobacco smoke as sure as you live, and if 
I’m not mistaken it’s the same Turkish brand 
I bought in Cairo for my own especial benefit. 
That villain of an Achmet is just fairly reveling 
in it I know, confound his impudence,” was 
what he thought, though the broad smile that 
crept over his cheerful countenance would seem 
to indicate he was not very wroth over the mat- 
ter, and that in all probability the rogue of an 
Achmet would be duly forgiven if he only knew 
how to play the penitent properly. He could 
even picture the “scurvy dog of a reis^^ squat- 
ted upon the sacred quarterdeck in all his glory, 
where he had never been wont to intrude with- 
out much bowing and scraping. No doubt he 
was enjoying the novel condition of being the 
lord of his own boat, subsisting upon food and 
drink provided by the gold of a “foreign dog 
of a Frank.” 

“Just wait, that’s all,” whispered Sandy, as 
he shook his fist in the direction of the boat, and 


OF THE NILE. 


133 


tried his best to scowl like a pirate of the Span- 
ish Main, though any one who knew his sunny 
disposition need not be told that the attempt 
was pretty much of a failure. Still, it gave him 
pleasure to anticipate the hour of his triumph, 
which he believed was drawing near; and he 
liked to picture himself as exercising clemency 
toward the rascally ones who had left him so 
miserably in the lurch. 

How long the minutes seemed. Could any- 
thing serious have happened to Larry? There 
was no possible way of learning just what the 
length of his stay might be, since a watch was 
of little value in the dark ; but judging from his 
own feelings he imagined it must already have 
overstepped the limit. At least he had heard 
no sound from the direction of the tied-up da~ 
habeah to indicate anything in the shape of a 
rumpus, so he concluded that Larry could not 
have gotten into difficulties. 

Once or twice he caught the sound of muffied 
voices, which he understood came from the crew. 
As a usual thing the fellows who go to make up 


134 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


the shift of a Nile boat are apt to be a merry 
crowd, indulging in singing and the playing of 
native musical instruments when off work. 
This when there is no impending danger ; but so 
far up the river as they now found themselves, 
they seemed to understand the value of silence. 
They were not desirous of a visit from the fierce 
dervishes, who professed no love for their 
breed, classing them with the hated foreigners 
who filled the cities to the north. 

Then Larry came back. The English lad 
heard a slight rustling sound, and even as he 
pricked up his ears to harken, a figure arose just 
beside him, causing him to start and take in a 
big breath with the single word : ^ ^ Oh ! ” 

^Sh!’^ whispered Larry, hastily, fearful lest 
the other might so far forget himself as to speak 
aloud. 

Thus warned Sandy caught the returned scout 
around the neck, so that he could glue his lips to 
his ear as he demanded : ‘ ‘ Say ! Was I right T’ ^ 

'‘You just were— it’s the Honest John to a 
dead certainty,” replied Larry. 


OF THE NILE. 


135 


^‘Oh, IVe had plenty of proof since yon were 
gone,^^ continued the proud and happy prophet. 

‘‘You have, eh— how thatT^ 

“Achmet was on deck, wasn’t he?” 

“That’s just what he was.” 

“And smoking one of my gay pipes for all he 
was worth?” 

“Well, he was smoking all right, hut of course 
I didn’t think to ask the old boy whose long- 
stemmed contraption he was enjoying. Are you 
guessing all this?” whispered the surprised 
Yankee. 

“Guessing nothing. I could see it with my 
double-sight. And that tobacco he’s squander- 
ing so recklessly cost me about ten shillings 
the pound. ’ ’ 

“Oh, I see, you got a whiff of it over here: 
breeze is from that quarter, and you recognized 
the odor all right. Quite cute of you, my boy. 
But rest easy; things look well, and I don’t see 
why we shouldn’t be able to get possession of 
the boat, unless the crew turn out to be an uglier 
lot than you seem to think them, and refuse to 


136 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


listen to yonr honeyed words about what big 
things you ^11 do for them when you get back to 
Cairo town.^^ 

‘‘Bully said Sandy, in his lowest possible 
tone; hut it did seem to make him feel so good 
to get off his favorite exclamation. 

“I suppose you don’t want to wait an hour or 
so morel” 

Sandy groaned dismally. “Please cut it 
short,” he just whined— no other word can de- 
scribe it. 

“All right, then, we’ll start ahead now.” 

Perhaps he had only been chaffing the impa- 
tient Sandy ; but that worthy was willing to take 
it in good part, for nothing seemed to disturb 
his happy nature long. They would not have 
far to go. Before starting the Maine lad took 
occasion to say: “Watch me closely, and what- 
ever I do copy my actions to the dot, see I ’ ’ 

Sandy signified that he quite understood, and 
would do his prettiest in order to accommodate. 
So whenever the one in the lead lifted his foot 


OF THE NILE. 


137 


the shadow did the same, and it would seem as 
though one mind directed both bodies. 

Later on when he came to reflect npon this 
affair, Sandy wonld undoubtedly indulge in 
many a hearty laugh over its comical features ; 
and this duplicate pattern of propriety and se- 
cretiveness would he a leading feature. Still, so 
long as he did just what the experienced guide 
of the pine woods of Maine thought the proper 
caper, all promised to go well, and not the least 
sound gave token of the fact that they were ad- 
vancing in a direct line toward the spot where 
the dahabeah lay. 

Now low voices floated to Sandy’s ears. He 
recognized the peculiarly oily utterance of the 
arch scoundrel, Achmet, and also knew he was 
speaking with the fellow who took the place of 
a mate with the crew, doing all the shouting, and 
swearing in the Arab tongue when things did 
not work smoothly; for it is understood that a 
river mate can never do anything in decency 
without spreading a copious supply of some sort 
of profanity over the same. The darkies on a 


138 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


Mississippi steamboat would mutiny if a mate 
were put over them who objected to swearing 
good and hard, for they somehow seem to look 
on it as an essential part of the business. 

Larry had already mapped out their plan of 
campaign. It was very simple. Undoubtedly 
the man who might give them the most trouble 
was the captain of the dahabeah; if they could 
only manage matters so that he would be ren- 
dered helpless, the balance seemed easy enough. 

To accomplish this required first of all that 
they find a lodgment aboard the vessel, after 
which they might proceed to surround the reis, 
and give the venerable old sinner the surprise 
of his blessed life. 

It all looked very simple, even to the lad who 
was quite unaccustomed to turbulent scenes; 
and he fancied that his friend must be a modern 
Napoleon to conceive such dashing schemes. 

It seemed fated, however, that things were not 
to pass off so easily. Even as they were thus 
creeping up toward the boat which was the goal 
of their ambition, Larry came to a sudden pause. 


OF THE NILE. 


139 


with one foot partly upraised, just as it chanced 
to be at the time he heard something that riveted 
his attention. Ditto his shadow, with excrucia- 
ting exactness. Even to the head tilted a trifle 
to one side in the act of listening, Sandy was a 
complete copy of his chief. And while thus 
poised he caught the sounds that had come to 
the keen hearing of his companion. 

A peculiar shuffling sound which once heard 
need never he mistaken for anything else, and 
caused by the padded feet of camels in their 
monotonous swinging stride over the clinging 
sands of their native desert. Camels meant 
something more, human riders, and who would 
be found in this benighted region save the des- 
perate followers of the Mahdi; unless by some 
small chance it might be a remnant of Kitchen- 
er’s camel corps, which seemed most unlikely. 

Sandy remembered then how his comrade had 
made mention of the little dust cloud away off 
over the desert just at sundown, and which 
might have been caused by a caravan or a war 
party of dervish raiders. Surely it must be the 


140 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


latter; there was too much of mystery and 
silence for it to be an ordinary caravan, com- 
posed of jolly merchants, wild with joy at ap- 
proaching the glorious Nile after prolonged mis- 
eries in the scorching arid waste. If dervishes^ 
then what did they want here, advancing in such 
spectral order, doubtless with their beasts ’ noses 
muffled so as to prevent an alarm! Ah, what 
indeed! With more or less dismay Sandy re- 
membered the fact that his dahaheah lay close 
by, fastened to the shore, and offering a rich 
prize, to be coveted by any wandering sheik and 
his followers. 

He thought this rather hard on a fellow, after 
chasing his dahaheah for weary miles down the 
Mother of Waters, and just about to take pos- 
session of his own, to find his claim disputed 
by these nomad buccaneers. But he calmly 
waited for his leader to make some move ; con- 
fident that Larry would know what ought to be 
done to save the coveted prize from the hands of 
the enemy. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


SANDY DREAM BECOMES A REALITY. 

Of course it was possible to shout out a hur- 
ried warning to those on board the anchored 
craft, giving them an opportunity to push off 
before the squad of camel-riders arrived on the 
scene; though they were now so close that per- 
haps even this move might not prevent some 
sort of fight. 

Such action however was open to several ob- 
jections; and as these concerned the success or 
failure of their own course, Larry was wise to 
consider well before committing himself to any 
positive move. If the crew received warning, 
they were apt to count any who endeavored to 
board the boat as interlopers, and prevent such 
action. Should the boys be thus prevented 
from embarking, they would find themselves 


142 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


stranded on a hostile shore, with an unknown 
number of bloodthirsty dervish fanatics to 
reckon with. 

The prospect did not appeal to Larry one bit ; 
indeed, it possessed so little fascination for him 
that he was ready to attempt almost anything 
else, in order to escape the experience. 

There was only one way ; and that by crawling 
aboard the dahabeah before the warning cry 
went forth. Then, should the crew succeed in 
pushing away in time, they could at least count 
on a haven of refuge. 

Accordingly Larry tugged at the sleeve of his 
comrade. The English lad knew what this 
meant, and was ready to do his prettiest in order 
to please Larry, and at the same time feather his 
own nest by way of recovering the long-lost 
dahabeah. 

The silence of that African night was soon to 
be broken by a conglomeration of sounds, since 
three separate forces were drawing rapidly to- 
gether, all of them bitterly hostile. 

To the surprise of Sandy, instead of imme- 


OF THE NILE. 


143 


di^tely creeping aboard, his companion stooped 
down and seemed to be fumbling with some 
object at his feet. What this was he could read- 
ily guess, since he had just stumbled over the 
rope, and fastened to one end was an anchor, 
the fluke of which had been thrust deeply into 
the sand in order to hold the boat against the 
current. Sandy knew, because he had watched 
his men carry out this same scheme many times, 
when it was deemed fit and proper that they 
lay up alongside the bank of the river. And 
what did Larry want with that rope. Surely he 
was not thinking of dragging out that heavy 
anchor, and lugging it aboard. Such an opera- 
tion required the strength of several sailors; 
would be far beyond the power of this sturdy 
young chap. 

Aha ! Judging from the several sweeps which 
Larry’s arm made through space, he had 
conceived a much better way to free the an- 
chored boat from her moorings; the edge of a 
knife would part the strands of the taut rope, 
and immediately the current of the Nile must 


144 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


begin to get in its work. Even at sncb a time 
Sandy was deeply impressed with the prompt 
manner in which this clever Maine boy met an 
emergency, and wrestled with what might have 
proven a difficult problem to many. The thing 
was done in a jiffy, and immediately Larry be- 
gan to glide toward the boat, which towered up 
close beside them. 

The happenings of the next few minutes will 
always remain a sort of chaotic remembrance 
with Ly Sander Jones, for it was as though they 
were suddenly tossed from calm to storm. 

A few steps brought them to the side of the 
boat. Luckily the dahaheah was so constructed 
that it was possible for any one desirous of get- 
ting aboard at this particular point to do so 
without a ladder. Sandy was surprised that 
his comrade should hit upon the one available 
place, forgetting that Larry had done a little 
scouting on his own account. 

First they put the guns aboard, before be- 
ginning to clamber up. If in so doing they 
managed to make a trifling amount of noise, it 


OF THE NILE. 


145 


did not matter, there were other sources of 
racket that overshadowed such small trifles. 

When the anchor rope was cut there was a 
movement to the freed boat, and to such an old 
and experienced captain as the veteran Achmet, 
this became noticeable at once. He may have 
been enjoying his ease after the manner of his 
lazy kind, when a golden opportunity has opened 
up, but this evidence of coming trouble aroused 
him as nothing else could have done. Instantly 
he was bellowing orders to the lounging crew 
which caused each individual Arab to leap up 
and be doing. 

Now, the fact that an alarm had apparently 
been given aboard the prize which they an- 
ticipated capturing, caused the camel-riders to 
believe their presence had been discovered a 
minute or so sooner than they had expected; 
and in consequence they vented their disgust 
and anger by a series of whoops that were cal- 
culated to give the crew a cold turn. Of course 
the old reis would order his men to lay hold of 

the poles, and begin to shove off with alacrity ; 

10 


146 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


but the question arose whether even this prompt 
action might avail anything, since the dervishes 
were already on the spot, and even while he was 
shouting his orders would be tumbling down 
from their camels in hot haste, anxious to effect 
a lodgment on board ere the boat floated out 
upon the stream and escaped their grasp. 

That was where Larry knew the presence of 
himself and Sandy was going to prove of im- 
mense value to the cause. Achmet and his 
braves would be so excited by the abruptness 
of the attack that they would think of nothing 
beyond the desire to put space between them- 
selves and the unseen origin of those fierce 
cries; so that the defense of the boat would be 
neglected. 

Sandy was still keenly on the alert to copy 
whatever his friend did, and as a consequence 
two guns were thrust outward, while eager fin- 
gers toyed with them ready to begin business. 

The boat was already beginning to feel the 
effort put forth by the brawny sailors, pushing 
at the setting-poles with all their vigor, and they 


OF THE NILE. 


147 


were widening the gap between them and land. 
But in this short interval the furious camel-men 
had managed to gain a footing, and were piling 
pell-mell into the water, with the object of hav- 
ing it out with the crew at close quarters. 

Sandy shut his teeth hard together. Perhaps 
he had looked forward to such a strange condi- 
tion as this at some time or other while pursu- 
ing his explorations in the heart of Darkest 
Africa after the style of Stanley ; but now that 
it was upon him, he realized that it was not half 
as much fun as it had appeared in anticipation. 
Still the Britisher was game under all his fun- 
loving disposition, and even if his pulse was 
fluttering like a trip-hammer he faced his duty 
manfully. 

It would he folly to delay longer, for there 
were a host of signs going to show that the 
would-be hoarders must have reached the edge 
of the river ; indeed, to judge from the splashing 
sounds it was evident that most of them had al- 
ready taken to the water. 


148 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


Larry began his bombardment. So did his 
nnder-stndy, not to be outdone. 

The flash of their guns seemed to cut the dark- 
ness as with cimeters of flame, and lighted up 
the wild-looking figures of those desperate sons 
of the wilderness who were but a few gun 
lengths away. 

The crew of the dahabeaJi must have been as 
surprised as the dervishes, when this volley 
broke loose, for surely they could not hazard a 
guess as to whence it sprang, nor what magic 
had come upon their craft in order to bring 
about such an extraordinary result. 

The sudden bombardment staggered the as- 
sailants for a moment; and every fraction of 
time counted, since the boat was slowly but 
surely yielding to the push exerted by the now 
frantic crew, and swinging out into the stream, 
where the full force of the current would speed- 
ily take hold in earnest. 

Larry believed that when one had a good 
thing it was only right and proper to shove it 
along. He realized that this warm reception 


OF THE NILE. 


149 


must after some measure cliill the ardor of the 
attack, and consequently it became his duty to 
continue firing. Of course it was at random, 
more or less, since everything was wrapped in 
Egyptian darkness. Instinct may have caused 
them to fire with more or less certainty that 
their lead would not he wasted ; and then again, 
the splashing made by the hurried scramble of 
the dervishes, aided materially in locating the 
invaders. 

Again with a roar the two guns were dis- 
charged. Sandy felt faint, because he had 
caught a glimpse of a gigantic heathen stagger- 
ing back before the flash of his weapon, as 
though sorely stricken. It was awful, this 
shooting at human beings, even though they 
were fetish worshipers of the Soudan, and bent 
upon shedding the blood of those upon the dis- 
puted boat. Why, he would much rather con- 
fine his attentions to the tribe of crocodiles, 
from this time forth, since the bringing down 
of game in that particular was legitimate sport. 

The splashing kept right on, showing that 


150 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


these fanatics were not to be driven oif so easily 
once they had set their minds npon doing a 
thing. Some of them might gain lodgment on 
the boat, clambering up the side like monkeys ; 
for they were men entirely destitute of fear, 
and laughed at Death, with whom they had 
often supped. 

If there had only been a little light ; the boys 
could have seen what was going on, and might 
have picked off each individual dervish ere he 
had gained a footing on the boat. 

As it was some of them managed to clutch 
hold either forward or astern and though the 
efforts of the crew sent the Honest John to the 
middle of the river, such a move did not cause 
them to give over their mad intention to run 
amuck aboard the floating palace. 

The main body had been left upon the shore, 
and amused themselves in firing their guns after 
the boat which could only be located through the 
help of the towering spars. 

To Sandy’s surprise his companion gave no 
apparent heed to these flying bits of lead, but 



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OF THE NILE. 


151 


had his mind wholly engrossed with the idea of 
dislodging the unwelcome guests enjoying a free 
ride while the boat swept down stream. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


THE COOK WINS GKEAT GLOEY. 

The affair was certainly exciting enough while 
it lasted. Sandy was under the impression that 
it hung on for half an hour, such was the state 
of suspense under which he labored, and the 
variety of incidents that chased after each other. 

Now that the boat had drifted from shore, 
there was little chance of a new assault being 
made, and Larry considered it would he just as 
well if himself and comrades made the rounds 
with the intention of dislodging the stray der- 
vishes clinging to the houseboat, with designs 
upon the crew. 

Shout to Achmet, and let him know who is 
making all this racket; or he may take us for 
the pirates and hinder our work ! ’ ’ he called. 

Sandy understood the object involved; on his 
part he had no particular fancy for allowing 
152 


OF THE NILE. 


153 


himself to he made a target for the captain, who 
had no doubt loaded himself down with a miscel- 
laneous assortment of the firearms brought out 
from Old England with the laudible intention 
of shortening the useless careers of various boss 
crocodiles that had lorded it along the mystic 
Nile for many years. 

Accordingly Sandy began to shout, and when 
he tried he could certainly put up a pretty fair 
article of a ‘‘halloo.’’ “Now then. Captain 
Achmet,” he began, with a bellow that rose 
above all other noises, as a steam-siren on the 
coast out-classes the voices of the storm; “look 
lively there, and don’t go to taking us for the 
beastly pirates. It’s me, come back to my own, 
— Lysander Pericles Jones, you understand; 
with a bully good friend, and we’re going to 
sweep the last of the scoundrels over the side. 
Have your men pull away from shore all they 
can, and leave the rest to us ! D ’ye hear. Cap- 
tain Achmet!” 

He must indeed have been stone deaf not to 
have heard ; and he signified as much by making 


154 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


speedy answer. Perhaps, had crafty old Ach- 
met been given a chance to think the matter 
over, he might have been stnnned by the sud- 
den return of the rich young Britisher who had 
chartered the dahabeah, and whom he had so 
basely deserted; but things were just now in 
such a turmoil and confusion that the only thing 
impressed upon his mind was the conviction 
that the dervish host was being beaten back 
through a lucky combination. 

In turn he began to howl to his men in the 
Arabic tongue, doubtless giving them directions 
as to what they should do in order to accom- 
plish the most good in a specified space of time. 

Larry was satisfied with the way things 
looked. He considered that the game was as 
good as won, though of course they had to hurry 
from point to point, and show those venturesome 
souls who clung to the outside of the vessel how 
it was to their best interests that they drop 
calmly back into the river, and swim for the al- 
ready distant shore. 

Sandy had not quite forgotten what had been 


OF THE NILE. 


155 


said to him in connection with hot water and the 
cook ; and chancing to rnn across that worthy in 
the course of his little dashes this way and that, 
he took hold of him by his flowing burnous, say- 
ing eagerly; 

‘‘Hello ! Mahomet- Ali, it^s me, don’t y’ know; 
the boss come hack again. If you have any hot 
water in your galley go and get it, and souse it 
over the murderous imps who cling to the side 
of our boat, and would take your life and mine ! 
Haste, then. Son of the Prophet, and I will make 
you rich!” 

The cook was a man of superior intelligence, 
and understood when fortune knocked at his 
door. Besides, he had always liked the young 
and generous Englishman. He responded to 
the appeal with unction, darting into his galley 
with all haste, and almost instantly reappeared, 
hearing a great kettle of water, from the nose 
of which the steam was spouting. He had im- 
bibed the fervor of the hour, and was eager to 
fight with such weapons as his calling provided. 

^^Techbir! techbir!^* they heard him shout, as 


156 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


he hovered along the side of the boat, with his 
kettle poised, ready to begin operations. 

Immediately came a whoop of delight, as he 
made a discovery; the kettle tilted up, and 
there arose a frightful shriek, followed instantly 
by a great splash, as the scalded wretch dropped 
back into the river, where his burns might be 
temporarily cooled. 

The wielder of pots and pans was now keyed 
up to the top-notch of excitement, and as he 
hunted for another victim they could hear him 
hurling execrations at the heads of the enemy, 
strange to say, in a species of pidgin English, 
which he had picked up during years of travel 
on the Nile pleasure boats. ^‘May Azrael drag 
you to the lowermost pit!” seemed to be the 
burden of his cry, as he continued to sprinkle 
the heads of those whose presence he discovered 
through means of his peculiarly keen vision. 

Larry on his part did not have a great deal to 
do. One would-be marauder did succeed in 
crawling up the side of the dahabeah, and gain- 
ing the deck, but he was discovered in time . and 


OF THE NILE. 


157 


seeing tliat he had hared a wicked looking 
knife, the Maine hoy felt compelled to use his 
gun, making sure to shoot to wound rather than 
to kill; under the circumstances all will admit 
this was very considerate of him. 

As for Sandy, he was utterly unable to find 
opportunity to do himself justice, but had to rest 
content with running back and forth, making a 
great show of animation, which must have duly 
impressed the wondering sailors, who had been 
inclined to believe him timid ; at least little fitted 
for a strenuous life. Well, it was time they 
found out their mistake. Other people would 
also discover how they had underestimated his 
capacity for doing things, notably those old- 
fogy papers in London, who had declined his 
services at one time or another. When his re- 
port was cabled home, telling all about what 
Kitchener had done, just as he had it from the 
lips of Larry, some of those who had in days 
gone by sneered at his pretensions might change 
their tune. 

By this time Larry had made a complete cir- 


158 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


cuit of the boat, up and down, and was fairly 
satisfied that they had shaken off the last of the 
hangers-on. The fellow whom he had wounded 
sat upon the deck, grunting, hut not asking any 
favors, since it would be against his religion to 
beg for his life, especially to a hated ‘^dog of a 
Frank.’’ 

Sandy was puffed out with pride ; he had the 
idea that he had done something worth while 
at last. The lost dahabeah had been recovered 
and Achmet must even now be cringing in fear 
of his anger. 

He strode into the cabin, and proceeded to 
strike a match. Why, the place looked pretty 
much the same as of yore, only there were evi- 
dences of unholy hands having tampered with 
his stores and investigated his desk, possibly in 
search of hidden coin, which he had been shrewd 
enough to conceal in a safer place. 

He calmly proceeded to light the quaint lamp, 
and after that the first thing this English lad 
did was to hunt up a favorite old bulldog pipe, 
load it with some of his precious Egyptian to- 


OF THE NILE. 


159 


bacco, and begin to pnff ont billows of smoke. 
Such is the force of habit. 

^‘Now, I suppose the next thing on the pro- 
gramme ought to be the putting of that rascal 
Achmet through his degree. Hello ! there, 
Larry, would you mind bringing the captain in 
here, and remaining yourself to see it through?, 
Watch the beggar get down on his knees, and 
swear by the beard of Mahomet that it was all 
a mistake, and that he has been in torment ever 
since he lost me. Oh, he’s a sly dog, I tell 
you. I hope you don’t mind, old fellow?” 

‘^Not a bit,” answered the other, with alac- 
rity; ^Hor d’ye know I’m somewhat curious my- 
self to find out just what he’s going to say. 
I’ve made a study of his kind, and I’ve yet to 
find one who didn’t have some wonderful ex- 
cuse that made a fellow forgive him. Bom 
liars, every mother’s son of ’em, believe me.” 

He went out to find the old reis. As he had 
anticipated, the white-bearded Arab was pro- 
fuse in his exclamations of delight, concerning 
the safe return of his young master. It was so 


160 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


well put on that he might have been deceived, 
only for the fact that he understood men too 
well. And the captain followed him cheerfully 
to the cabin. 

Larry wondered what made him so confident 
of acquittal. ‘^He’s certainly got the nerve, or 
else he knows just how to work Sandy, who is 
too good-natured by half. Perhaps I can give 
the boy a helping hand, and show this old rogue 
what a nasty thing he did in cutting loose when 
his employer was ashore. Why, if it were 
known in Cairo they’d take his license away, 
I’m sure. See, how chipper he is, and how he 
salaams before Sandy— I declare, it’s worth 
while just to see how he swaggers, too. I do be- 
lieve he knows something that he expects to use 
in making peace ! ’ ’ 

It was true, Achmet was smiling myste- 
riously, as though he felt very proud. Had 
such things been aboard the houseboat, which 
they were not, Sandy might have suspected that 
the captain had been indulging in too much 


OF THE NILE. 


161 


arahi, hemp-juice, or it might be the Arab wines 
of Shiraz. 

“Now explain yourself, Captain Achmet— 
how came it that you left me on the bank of the 
river, where I might have starved to death, or 
been carried away into captivity, only for the 
fortunate coming of this gentleman? You can 
understand that I have been very angry. Speak 
and tell me why ! ’ ’ 

“It was a strange adventure. Excellent One, 
and hard to believe, yet will I swear by the 
sacred heard of Mahomet, and my words will 
find echo with the entire crew, so that you may 
know they are hut the truth,’’ said the captain,' 
with due solemnity, yet also a gleam of mirth 
in his eye. 

“Of course, hut I already know most of them 
would sneeze did you but take a pinch of snutf, 
which is our way for saying that you have them 
well under your thumb. Captain mine. But 
suppose you let us hear all about this wonder- 
ful thing that made you slip away while I sat 
11 


162 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


ashore. I am anxious to laugh when there is 
anything funny being told. Now, begin.’’ 

‘^Yes,” said Larry, who showed traces of im- 
patience,” for I’ve something of importance 
that has to be done before we get much fur- 
ther down-stream; and so if you please, Cap- 
tain, let us have the details as quickly as you 
can. ’ ’ 

And Achmet, bowing gravely first to one and 
then the other, began. 


CHAPTER XV. 


THE WONDEBFUL STOKY ACHMET TOLD. 

The old fellow tried to look exceedingly grave 
while he set about his task of clearing his repu- 
tation. He knew full well how the young Eng- 
lish nabob suspected him of meaning to run 
away with the spoils that were on the dahabeah, 
and of deserting the one who had chartered the 
boat for the whole season ; and also that it would 
require an ingenious story to explain away the 
facts that looked so dark. Still, since the days 
when the wonderful Arabian Nights first saw 
the light, the ingenuity of Eastern tongues for 
amazing tales has not dimmed, and Captain 
Achmet knew his part. 

“Know then, good sir,^’ he began, modestly, 
“that at the time of the going ashore on the 
part of our Illustrious Master to amuse him- 
self after his fashion, we dreamed not of peril, 
163 


164 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


for was not tlie coast apparently clear? Alas! 
in this enchanted country things happen that it 
does not enter the mind to conceive; and so it 
came about in onr case, as I shall now endeavor 
to relate. 

‘‘One hour only had passed and all seemed 
well to me, as I sat smoking my pipe on the 
lower deck. The men were lying around, tell- 
ing stories of former adventures in this strange 
land, those who had known it before. 

“Suddenly, Jiowadji, I felt a shock that made 
the vessel tremble from end to end, so powerful 
the blow, and as I scrambled to my feet, I found 
that the dahaheah was rocking from side to side 
in a manner that made one sick. 

“I have traveled much, as you know, and it 
has been my experience to feel the earth tremble 
under my feet with the quake ; so what should 
be my first thought but that such had come to 
pass even now, in this land whereof the like had 
never before been known? The sailors were 
terribly alarmed, and clung to the sides, calling 
one to another and repeating passages from the 


OF THE NILE. 


165 


Koran that came to mind. After the first shock 
I discovered that we were moving down the 
river at a very fast pace. 

‘‘Now, yon may remember, Illustrious One, 
that at the time you left us the boat was an- 
chored a little way from the shore, since it was 
thought best not to tie up alongside so treacher- 
ous a land. So then I knew that in some mys- 
terious way our anchor had been cut loose, leav- 
ing us to float with the stream. That was my_ 
first thought. But as I looked out upon the 
water, I was astonished to discover that we were 
moving just twice as fast as the current. That 
was so very strange I rubbed my eyes, fearing 
lest I dreamed; but lo, when I looked again I 
found it was even so, and that our pace was 
faster than before. 

“Sirs, in my time, have I not surely seen 
many strange sights, and passed through vicissi- 
tudes that would shame the stories of Schehere- 
zade? Yet on my honor have I never known so 
remarkable a thing to happen. So had it been 
also observed by the men, who were crying out 


166 


YOUNO VOYAGERS 


that the vessel was bewitched, and accursed. 
Some were for throwing themselves over the 
side, had it not been that they feared what the 
water contained, and by means of which we 
were being carried along at such a pace. 

“This continued for a long time, so that we 
must have gone miles from the spot of our an- 
chorage, when, as if by inspiration a thought 
came into my wretched brain, and for the first 
time I saw light. I chanced to be looking ahead 
of the boat, in apprehension lest we be brought 
suddenly upon a snag that would sink us then 
and there, when a commotion in the water 
caused me to cry out: “ ^Timseh! Timseh! 
The greatest of his kind. A monster such as 
the little master has long sought ! ’ 

“And then I knew, howadji, what had come to 
pass. How this terrible god of the waters, in a 
fury perhaps because we had slain so many of 
his brood, had snatched our anchor up as though 
it were a beetle, and becoming entangled in the 
rope, had run away with us ; so that without any 


OF THE NILE. 


167 


desire on our part we had abandoned the Noble 
One.’’ 

Achmet paused after making this hold as- 
sertion, as though to give it time to he digested 
by his hearers, or else because the effort had 
exhausted him. Sandy was listening with 
eagerness, while Larry on his part smiled, as if 
hardly knowing whether to allow the Arab the 
benefit of a doubt or not; for he found himself 
forced to admire the ingenuity of the narrative, 
which he rather feared was made up out of 
whole cloth. 

Then Captain Achmet took up the train of his 
thoughts with the same calm, deliberate manner 
that had marked his recital up to now : 

‘^When this explanation of our flight was 
made manifest to me, I first thought of quieting 
the fears of the crew, for by this time some of 
them were beside themselves with terror, be- 
lieving we must he bound for the lowermost pit 
of foul Azrael’s domain. Therefore, I called to 
them to observe what mine eyes had beheld, and 
at my words of good cheer they did look and 


168 


YOUNG VOYAGl^RS 


beheld the monster as he swam at times part 
way out of the water, splashing and foaming 
along in his rage. 

“So, our spirits began to return, and we took 
counsel together how we might free ourselves 
from the power of this terrible fiend, who 
seemed bent on dragging us to our destruction. 
It was hard to see just how to send the lead 
where it would reach a vital point, but I am no 
mean shot, Jiowadji, as you yourself have said, 
and the gun that repeats, which you left in my 
care, did its duty nobly. 

“I began to shoot as the opportunity came my 
way, for sometimes our pilot would sink quite 
out of sight, and again would he thresh the 
water on the surface as though wild with rage 
and pain. I never ceased, knowing that there 
was much to be gained, and that Your Excel- 
lency would not scold if much ammunition were 
consumed, for to a certainty was this the great- 
est of all timsehs ever seen on the sacred Nile. 

“I know not whether luck or my prayers to 
the Prophet prevailed, but I heard a shout from 


OF THE NILE. 


169 


some of the crew, who had gathered forward. I 
had struck the father of monsters in a fatal 
spot ; his actions told the story, and he came up 
no more. 

‘‘Then did I remember that it would please 
my master to behold the fruits of our industry, 
and hence it was that I gave orders for an- 
other anchor to be cast out so that we might not 
drift too far away from the slain demon. When 
that had been done I also decreed that search 
should be made and his body if found taken 
ashore until the morrow ; but until I led the way, 
not a man dared venture afloat in the small 
boat, such was the fear inspired by the sight and 
power of this monster of the waters.’’ 

“Tell me, did you find him?” cried Sandy, 
eagerly, as the other paused to give force to his 
climax. 

“Even so, Most Exalted One, for behold, he 
was tangled up in the cable, so that in recover- 
ing our anchor we came upon the dead beast, 
and I was proud to find that many pf my bul- 
lets had pierced his skin, so wonderfully made 


170 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


is the magic gun of the English,’^ responded 
Achmet, gravely. 

Larry supposed he was simply lying, and that 
when called upon to produce the goods he would 
invent another ingenious yarn to the effect that 
some other unknown monster had dragged the 
body away during the night, or something of 
this character. 

‘‘But see here, Achmet, after you had slain 
the Jahberwock, what kept you from returning 
for meV^ demanded Sandy, his mind still full 
of suspicions, which even this wonder-story had 
not dissipated. It was worth something to see 
the fine shrug which the old reis gave his shoul- 
der then; it expressed whole volumes, and in- 
deed, words must seem tame in comparison. 

“Glad would I have been to do so, howadji. 
It was my first thought, for I knew how it would 
pain the master to find us gone ; but one cannot 
always do as seems best, and it so happened 
that we heard the rapid fire of guns up the river, 
and all were of a mind that the enemy had come 
upon the camp of the Excellent One, so that it 


OF THE NILE. 


171 


was useless returning, while the night held. 
When daybreak came I would have set sail and 
sought for signs of our missing master, hut the 
crew mutinied. I tell this on my honor. They 
utterly refused to draw rope or set sail unless it 
he down the river. ’ ’ 

Larry nodded his head as if in appreciation 
of the clever manner in which this master at 
lies could draw himself out of a tight hole. Ap- 
parently nothing could daunt his inventive fac- 
ulties, for the greater the need the stronger he 
drew the long bow. 

‘‘Oh,” said Sandy, half laughingly, “the hoys 
went back on you, did they ? I thought your in- 
fluence had begun to wane, and that they whis- 
pered too much together for good. WTiat was 
it they feared, another monster of the flood, or 
a roasting from the dervishes ashore? Any- 
how, I suppose the excuse goes, and accounts 
for your not coming hack again. ^ ^ 

“Of a truth I threateijed and pleaded all to 
no purpose, for they were set in their minds, 
and would not yield; so that finally fearing for 


172 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


my own life if I persisted longer I was forced 
mncli against my will to let the cowardly rogues 
have their own way, though it almost broke my 
heart to leave the Illustrious One in the wilder- 
ness. 

‘‘I have spent much of the time praying to 
Mahomet to deliver the master out of danger, 
and praise to Allah my supplications have been 
heard. We welcome the lost one back to his own, 
and trust that he will pardon those ignorant 
slaves whose fears outweighed their loyalty. 
All is now well, and perchance, when the master 
has heard what wonderful news I bear, he may 
feel only forgiveness in his heart toward all.’’ 

The wily Arab then was saving the best to 
the last; both Larry and his comrade under- 
stood that he had a disclosure of some conse- 
quence to make, and naturally their curiosity 
was aroused. 

^‘All right,” said Sandy, hastily; ‘^but sup- 
pose you tell us what’s in the wind. Have you 
any proof that it was the grand-daddy of croco- 
diles that ran away with your anchor and caused 


OF THE NILE. 


173 


me to be left in tbe lurch? If so, trot it out, 
and let me decide about the forgiving act!” 

‘‘Come and see,” answered the venerable 
reis, simply, yet with a slight smile. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


UNCLE THEODOKE’s FATE EEVEALED. 

The native captain of the Nile houseboat pro- 
ceeded to pick up a lantern, and light the same 
with a match in a manner that proved how ac- 
customed to the ways of civilization he had be- 
come during his long intercourse with the tour- 
ist traffic. 

Larry had been watching him closely all the 
while, and was of the opinion that the cunning 
Arab had, to use a popular phrase, ‘^a card up 
his sleeve.’’ He seemed so indifferent to the 
merited reproaches of his employer, and had 
such apparent confidence in the power of the 
outrageous yam he had just sprung upon them, 
that it seemed to Larry he must be intrenched 
behind some sort of barricade, upon which he 
depended to protect him at the last. 

To himself the Maine lad was saying : ^ ‘ Now, 
174 


OF THE NILE. 


175 


this wary old chap has a charming surprise 
which he is about to spring loose upon us. I be- 
lieve he is equal to any old thing; but in this 
case I rather guess the affair promises to be 
something nice.” 

And yet even Larry could not dream the ex- 
act nature of the truth, so that he was in a con- 
dition to be surprised as well as his companion. 

Out of the cabin stalked Achmet. His air was 
that of a conqueror, rather than of a treacherous 
vassal, caught red-handed in the act of deserting 
his employer. 

A few paces along one side of the boat led to 
something on the deck; a great brown object, 
hideous to look upon, and which neither of the 
boys had chanced to notice when ranging along 
near the sides looking over for dervish heads to 
crack. 

As the light from the lantern fell upon this 
mass it was seen to be the lifeless form of a 
crocodile ! 

Larry whistled. Well had the reis declared 
this must be the grandfather of all saurians in- 


176 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


habiting the Nile, and looking upon his moss- 
back, antediluvian hide, one could even imagine 
he must have been roaming this sacred river for 
centuries. Indeed, Sandy stoutly declared his 
belief, though of course it was ridiculous, that 
the ancient reptile may have been on deck at the 
time of Pharaoh, when the first born in every 
family was taken away in a night, and the 
plagues came upon the land of Egypt. 

‘‘Jiminy! what a whopper!’’ he ejaculated, in 
astonishment, as he surveyed the stupendous 
proportions of the monster. 

If the facts were told, Sandy was more sur- 
prised because Achmet had actually told the 
truth, than on account of the extraordinary 
spectacle that met his view; for the reis was 
given to prevarication, and could tell a brazen 
lie without so much as a wink of his eye-lashes. 

‘‘He’s a beaut,” remarked Larry, feeling that 
it was expected of him to say something; but at 
the same time he was eying the Arab as though 
he anticipated better developments than this to 
break forth. And once more Larry was right. 


OF THE NILE. 


177 


^‘Say, I’d like to exhume the contents of this 
fellow’s interior. Like as not a search might 
bring to light some relic of antiquity, for I bet 
he’s been and eaten many an ancient Egyptian 
who lived in the time of Moses. The more I 
think of it the stronger grows the inclination. 
I’ve been fooled many times, and really deserve 
a little success, you know,” rambled the English 
lad, cheerfully. Then Achmet’s hour had come, 
and he sprung his little surprise. 

Sorry am I to deprive the howadji of that 
pleasure, but kismet, it is fate. We knew it 
would he necessary to toss this offal over into 
the river, so on my own responsibility have I 
performed the usual operation, which it pleased 
the Most Excellent One to call a post mortem,” 
he said, smoothly. 

Sandy turned on his captain with some eager- 
ness, as though it just dawned upon his intellect 
that the other had been keeping the best to the 
last. ‘‘You found something?” he demanded. 

“ Something— yes, most truly, a strange col- 
lection, utterly beyond belief. All the other 
12 


178 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


things picked np, howadji, cannot compare with 
what this rogne carried about with him. Jew- 
elry by the peck, which is worn by the common 
fellahin, and worth its weight in piasters. Yes, 
and other things that it would perhaps interest 
the Illustrious One to examine.” 

There was something so very suggestive in 
the words as well as the manner of the old reis 
that Sandy seemed to receive an electric shock. 
He clutched the captain’s flowing sleeve. 

^‘Look here, you’ve got something rich to tell 
me. You’re holding back news with a big N. 
Don’t tell me you’ve really and truly found 
IT I ” he cried, trying to keep his voice calm. 

Achmet was as composed as though engaged 
in the ceremony of burial at one of the ancient 
pyramids. The strange light from the lantern 
showed something akin to a grin creeping over 
his swarthy countenance, but he simply beck- 
oned with his hand and said: ‘^Let the young 
howadji come and see ! ’ ’ 

Back to the cabin it was then, and Sandy 
pushed the old reis hard, such was his eagerness, 


OP THE NILE. 


179 


for his almost dead hopes had sprung into life 
again. Arrived under the roof once more, the 
captain began to deliberately pile certain arti- 
cles upon the table, rusted ornaments of bronze 
or some such metal, the like of which the boys 
had seen upon the women who worked in the 
rice or maize fields along the sacred river. Per- 
haps they had come out of the monster croco- 
dile, and again there was a little chance that 
Achmet had been making a collection for some 
purpose of his own, which he was now bent upon 
putting to good use. Be that as it might the 
ornaments made quite a pile, and Sandy sur- 
veyed them with the eyes of a hawk, each time 
anticipating the coming of quite another article, 
in which he had a far deeper interest. 

Finally with a broad grin, the captain held up 
some object, at sight of which Sandy uttered a 
cry and stretching out his hand took from the 
Arab— a set of false teeth, darkened and bent 
a little, but of an unmistakable pattern, quite 
unique. 

Larry did not know whether to laugh or look 


180 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


sober. It was ludicrous as well as melancholy, 
to see the English lad fondling this last remnant 
of his dead and gone uncle tenderly, and ad- 
dressing himself to it as though the spirit of his 
benefactor still hovered about the triumph of 
the dentist’s art. 

‘‘At last, after all my weary search, success 
has crowned my efforts. Poor old Uncle Theo- 
dore, to think that you should find a sepulcher 
in a beastly old croc ; but at any rate it was the 
biggest ever, and perhaps there ’s a bit of satis- 
faction in that. If I had to be gobbled by such 
a beast I’d like to know he was the ancestor 
of the whole tribe. A distinguished pedigree is 
worth something, even in the crocodile family, I 
expect.” 

“No doubt about it?” asked Larry, with a 
lingering suspicion that possibly the cunning 
Arab might have sprung a trick in some clever 
way, for he knew enough about the breed to put 
nothing past them. 

“Oh, there’s proof in plenty. I’d stake all I 
had on the identity of this plate. Not another 


OF THE NILE. 


181 


like it in existence, I was told. Peters was all 
right in what he said, only he didn’t half do 
jnstice to that monster. Why, the mammoth 
looks as if he could swallow a hull whole. I’m 
only sorry about one thing,” he added, mourn- 
fully. 

^‘That you didn’t have the pleasure of shoot- 
ing the reptile yourself?” said Larry, quickly. 

“Yes, how easy it is for you to read my mind ; 
hut that’s it. You see, Larry, although this 
strikes you only in a comical way, it has its 
serious side to me. Uncle Theodore was my 
benefactor, and I owe all I have to the dear old 
chap; so that when I got to thinking that none 
of his remains rested under that lovely stone I 
had erected in the village graveyard at a cost of 
some hundreds of pounds, with all his virtues, 
and the wonderful discoveries he had made, 
carved on it, the notion of doing something to 
bring back even a shred of his garments seized 
hold of me and became a mania. But, after all 
I’m glad to have this; and now I can return to 
Old England contented, since my doubts are set 


182 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


at rest. I shall have this plate buried with the 
proper ceremonies, and feel that uncle is there 
in spirit.’’ 

Larry kept from laughing because he saw how 
serious a matter it was to the other. No doubt 
it often happens that what appears solemn to us 
strikes the eye of another as comical. 

Achmet had assumed a proud attitude all this 
while. The sly old fellow knew that it was the 
hour of his trumph indeed, and he gloried in it 
exceedingly. Now Sandy turned to the captain 
and held out his hand. 

‘‘Rest assured. Captain Achmet, this will not 
be forgotten when we come to settling up our 
accounts. You will always have cause to be 
glad that timseh grappled with your anchor, and 
fouled himself in the cable, for I intend to fill 
your hands with yellow boys as full as both of 
them can hold.” 

Achmet gravely looked at his good-sized 
palms, held them together as if to compute what 
that would mean, and then nodded in a satisfied 
way. 


OF THE NILE. 


183 


‘‘It is well, Illustrious One, and I am most 
favored of Allah. Glad will I be to see the long 
bridge of Kasr-el-Nil near Cairo again, and the 
Mokattam Hills that rise above the City of De- 
light. In the bazaars along the Mooski hang 
many things I long have envied, and now by the 
favor of the Prophet and my lord’s generosity, 
it may be in my power to own the same. I am 
happy to have pleased the young howadji. Now 
may the otfal be thrown over the side, and the 
decks cleaned?” 

“Certainly, without delay,” said Sandy, still 
hovering over the remains. Larry caught a 
gleam of satisfaction in the eye of the old reis, 

“He’s glad to get rid of the carcass without 
our examining it. Now, just for fun I’m going 
outside to see them push it over,” he said to 
hims^elf. He was surprised and somewhat mys- 
tified to find the crocodile in such a good state 
of preservation, considering the blistering heat 
of the land ; and this one fact gave him cause for 
much speculation, though he never really satis- 


184 


YOUNG VOYAGEES 


fied his curiosity on this score— all the same he 
did not believe that wonderful yam about the 
dahabeah being carried oif by the monster. 


CHAPTER XVII. 


BACK TO THE FIELD OF BATTLE. 

Sandy was surprised and chagrined a short 
time later when his friend came in and declared 
he would have to he put ashore again. 

‘^Why, it’s next to suicide,” he exclaimed, 
shaking his head; ‘^remember that those fero- 
cious dervishes are between here and the point 
where you left your boat. Can’t you stay on 
board with me?” 

‘‘I’d like it above all things, but you know 
the contract that binds me; and I don’t want to 
make my benefactor lose his money. It’s kind 
of you, though, and if you choose to loiter along 
we may see much of each other during the rest 
of my lonely voyage to Cairo. But I must be 
gone, for it’s some miles up stream; yet surely 
I ought to embark long before morning. The 
darkness favors me, and I hardly think I’ll run 
across those chaps again. ’ ’ 
i8s 


186 


YOUNG VOYAGEBS 


There spoke the determination of the Yankee 
lad. He knew Sandy was ready to back him 
for an education, and would have esteemed it a 
rare pleasure ; but his independent spirit balked 
at accepting such favors from one whom he had 
not even known a few weeks back. Also, he 
now especially had an opportunity to earn a col- 
lege tuition through his own efforts. 

The dahaheah was brought in to the shore, 
and Larry jumped upon the bank, after shaking 
the hand of his comrade with warmth. Again 
they were utterly in the dark as to the fact that 
a strange Fate had taken their fortunes in tow, 
and that this going back on the part of Larry 
was but an incident, a link in the chain, so to 
speak. 

We ’ll anchor off here, and keep a watch for 
you toward morning,” had been the last thing 
Sandy called, as the brave young fellow went 
ashore. 

It was easy following the course of the river. 
At the same time no doubt he would find that 
they had fioated quite a few miles more than 


OF THE NILE. 


187 


he suspected, since the battle with the dervishes ; 
and that it would take him a long time to re- 
trace the distance, for it was always weary 
work, tramping over the yielding sand, so dif- 
ferent from that to be found at the sea-shore. 
And all the time Larry was compelled to keep 
on watch for signs of the enemy. 

The desert warriors had been badly whipped 
in their encounter with those on the dahabeah, 
but their anger smoldered, and it might be they 
would continue to ride along the bank with the 
hope of renewing the engagement under other 
and more favorable conditions. If so then he 
was apt to run across them at any time, and the 
prospect of meeting a pack of fierce piratical 
customers did not seem pleasant. 

It was a monotonous tramp, and yet Larry 
rather enjoyed it. His voyage, up to the meet- 
ing with this young Englishman had been a 
lonely one, and he considered that he had much 
to be thankful for, the way things had come 
about of late. So he pushed on, keeping within 
a certain distance of the river; ready to fiatten 


188 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


himself on the sand at the first sign of danger. 

After he had covered a number of miles in 
this manner he began to keep a close watch for 
sighs of the spot where he had left the boat in 
which his solitary trip had to be taken. Per- 
haps he had not marked this in his mind as well 
as he might have desired, for at the time it will 
be remembered they only expected to be away 
a brief space, just enough to allow of their 
coming into possession of the runaway dahabeah 
again. Nevertheless, Larry did not think he 
could pass the place without recognizing certain 
features about it. 

His greatest concern was in connection with 
the fighting clan whose attempt to capture the 
houseboat, with all its rich freight, had been 
frustrated through the cleverness of the two 
boys, rather than on account of any action on 
the part of the Arab crew. 

Whenever a projecting point of land offered 
him an opportunity he would take a survey of 
the dark territory extending up the river, in 
the hopes of discovering some sign of the camp 


OF THE NILE. 


189 


of the nomads, if so be they had remained in 
touch with the river, as most of those who come 
out of the desert are only too glad to do. 

There was no sign of a light, showing that if 
the dervishes still hovered near they made no 
pretense of doing anything in the line of cook- 
ing. And so it came about that in due course 
of time Larry found himself in the vicinity of 
the place where the recent encounter had hap- 
pened, as he knew from various indentations 
along the shore that gave him his bearings. 
And he was not at all surprised to also discover 
that the fighters of the sandy waste, who might 
possibly be a remnant of those forces against 
which Kitchener had hurled his battalions in 
signal victory, were in camp at that identical 
spot, and right between him and the boat. 

He began to fear lest they might have found 
the little craft, which had not been too cleverly 
secreted at the time they abandoned it. Of 
course this would give him more serious trouble, 
for he was bound to regain possession, else 
would all his labor be in vain. Glancing up at 


190 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


the stars he saw he had time, before the coming 
again of day, in which to carry ont any plan 
that might suggest itself. 

The better way seemed to make a circuit of the 
camp, and come upon the river from above ; then 
he could creep carefully down to the place and 
find out whether good or bad luck was to be his 
portion. Larry’s wood training came in again 
very acceptably, and as on other occasions he 
made a success of the venture. 

The desert nomads did not keep a strict watch, 
for they knew of nothing which they had reason 
to fear ; and besides, they were evidently weary 
after their hot run across the country, for which 
Larry considered he had the British army to 
thank, not knowing the truth. He could hear 
the peculiar sounds made by their camels, and 
the whinny of a horse even reached him, en- 
abling him to locate the corral where the beasts 
were kept. 

Now Larry was a venturesome lad, and would 
have liked nothing better than an opportunity 
to stampede the whole bunch of animals, just 


OF THE NILE. 


191 


for the sake of stranding the warriors, for with- 
out his horse or camel the dervish is lost ; but on 
second thought he did not believe he had better 
try such a risky deal. If caught he knew the 
terrible fate that awaited him. Either a sud- 
den and violent death, or the horrible alterna- 
tive of serving a cruel taskmaster in some equa- 
torial native douar. This enabled him to curb 
the wild impulse. He heard men groaning, 
which convinced him that these fellows had suf- 
fered during the attack on the houseboat. 

Larry could not feel any particular sympathy 
for the wretches who thus gave vent to their 
feelings when their wounds hurt; for he had 
himself been the cause of a fair portion of this 
trouble, and rather plumed himself on the re- 
sult of his work. 

Once Larry passed close to a camel that lay 
upon the ground chewing its cud, and taking 
warning from this he sheered off a trifle fur- 
ther, not wishing to have any of the camp ani- 
mals discover him, and by their excitement 
alarm their masters. When finally the river 


192 


YOUNO VOYAGERS 


was reached he was pleased to dip his hands into 
its cooling waters, and drink again, for one 
seems to he never satisfied in this climate. 

Now for the boat, which should lie down 
stream a short distance, perhaps within the 
radius of a few yards. He strained his eyes, 
hut at first without success, for only darkness 
rewarded his efforts. 

As he crept on hands and knees a little further 
he began to see some bulky object that lay half 
in and half out of the water. It was the boat all 
right. He wondered that the keen-eyed natives 
had failed to run across such a prominent ob- 
ject, and concluded it must be because none of 
them had happened that way. 

A boy is usually ready to accept things as 
they come, without going deeply into the reason 
why; nor is he apt to feel any particular grati- 
tude because events shape themselves to his 
liking, accepting all as a matter of course. 
With Larry it was a little different, because he 
had had many up-hill fights, so that when the 
god of luck smiled upon him he was apt to ex- 


OF THE NILE. 


193 


perience a glow of thankfulness that took pos- 
session of his being. In other words necessity 
had stinted him so often, he could appreciate 
good things better than most boys of his age. 
There is nothing like supping with adversity to 
make one thankful for small favors received. 

The boat was so very near the camp that he 
knew he would have to exercise considerable 
vigilance in launching the same, lest in so doing 
he make some sound that might betray his pro- 
ject to the enemy, known to be gifted with re- 
markably keen ears. This caused him to work at 
the craft with considerable caution, so that it 
was really inch by inch he pushed it into the 
water. Luckily the slope was such that this 
could be accomplished without any tremendous 
exertion on his part. All that now remained to 
be done was to crawl in and push away from the 
dangerous shore. 

At this time Larry ^s heart was ‘4n his 
mouth through intense anxiety, for he dreaded 
lest some wideawake member of the camp make 
the discovery of his presence before he could get 

13 


194 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


a sufficient distance away to insure safety. The 
current now forced the craft along with more 
and more speed, so that his hopes arose as he be- 
gan to leave the camp further in the rear. And 
when finally he was far out upon the river, so 
that it seemed reasonably sure he need fear 
nothing further from that source, he could not 
restrain his feelings but muttered to himself as 
he began to put more vigor into the strokes with 
the paddle; when, imagine his amazement and 
consternation as at the forward end of the boat 
he suddenly saw a figure sit upright, and became 
aware of the fact that he was not the sole occu- 
pant of the boat. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


THE MODEEN JONAH. 

When this apparition faced him so suddenly 
Larry knew not what to think. Of course the 
first idea that flashed into his mind was that the 
dervishes had played a trick on him, and had 
some of their number concealed in the boat 
awaiting his coming. Indeed, he now expected 
to see others loom into view as had the first. 
When this failed to come about he bent forward 
and stared more closely at the occupant of the 
boat ; even while his hand crept toward his gun, 
lying conveniently near his feet. 

It was on the tip of his tongue to demand that 
the other throw his hands up and surrender, 
when to his astonishment he heard a voice utter 
words in fairly decent English, though with a 
blurred accent as though out of practice or from 
some other cause. 


196 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


^^God grant you are a white man, sir!^^ ex- 
•claimed the unknown. 

^^Oh, I thought you were one of the imps hack 
yonder. Yes, I^m white enough, but only a boy 
after all. Where do you come from, and how 
did you get in my boat, I^d like to knowU’ de- 
manded Larry ; beginning to surmise that after 
all those riders might not have been in the fight 
with Kitchener, but had something to do with 
the chasing of this waif. 

‘^Escaped from captivity— chased over the 
desert until my horse died under me— my lips 
are cracked with heat and want of food, though 
lying in the river for hours has given me new 
life. You must belong to the houseboat they 
tried to capture. After the fight was over I 
found this boat and tried to escape, but I was so 
weak I could not push it into the water, so I just 
managed to crawl into it, when I lost my head. 
Coming to my senses I found myself afloat and 
sat up to see you there. If you have a bit of 
food with you, in Heaven’s name give it to me, 
young sir, for I am almost starved to death!” 


OF THE NILE. 


197 


Larry was filled with sympathy. He realized 
that here was a sad case, and that his coming 
had possibly been the means of saving a life- 
Cheer np, and manage to hold out a little 
longer, for the houseboat is waiting a short dis~ 
tance below, and once aboard you can command 
anything in reason. Here, I have a little flask 
of liquor which Mr. Livermore made me carry 
for accidents, but which up to now IVe never 
needed. Take it, and perhaps it may help you 
hold out!’’ 

The unknown emptied it at a gulp, as eagerly 
as a hawk might pounce upon a dove-cote. 
thousand thanks, young fellow— it gives me new 
life, and now I may be able to hold out until we 
get there, though make it as short a time as you 
can, for to tell you the truth my poor stomach is 
awfully empty, and the gnawing pain distresses 
me more than I can tell you. 

''Then the dahabeah escaped, did it? Well, 
it was cut out for better luck than the one I had 
last year, for it fell into the hands of the bar- 
barians; and though I fought them tooth and 


198 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


nail they overpowered me. Too late I learned 
that my m.an was in league with the rascals, and 
had betrayed me, out of a desire for revenge be- 
cause of some little trouble we once had. If I 
could only live to find that rascal Silas Peters, I 
believe I’d be content to drop off in peace,” he 
went on, the memory of his wrongs burning in 
his mind. 

Larry fancied he had heard that name before, 
but just at the moment he could not say where. 
He was full of sympathy for the poor refugee, 
and while he paddled with all his might, and the 
boat sped down stream, he plied him with ques- 
tions. Larry heard how he had been carried 
into captivity, made a slave, tried to escape 
three times before he finally succeeded in steal- 
ing an Arab horse and getting away. All this and 
more the refugee told; of the long pursuit and 
how he eluded the dervishes until his horse gave 
out ; then the last few miles he had dragged his 
swollen feet over burning sands to the brink of 
the Nile, whither at dark the enemy must have 
come, for he heard the sounds of battle, though 


OF THE NILE. 


199 


he had not seen the dahaheah come down the 
river and tie up, having been asleep from ex- 
haustion. 

It was an interesting story, even when heard 
in fragments. At some other time under more 
favorable conditions he hoped to listen to the 
details, for this poor fellow had evidently gone 
through the ordeal that stared them in the face 
at the time they found themselves in the hands 
of the Philistines ; and from which they had been 
opportunely delivered by the unexpected arrival 
of the second and hostile company. 

He did not have the least hesitation in prom- 
ising him a warm welcome on hoard the house- 
boat, knowing the English lad as he did, as well 
as understanding his generous and hospitable 
nature. It was now nearly time for him to dis- 
cover some signs of the Honest John, They 
must have descended several miles, since leav- 
ing the scene of battle, and Sandy had promised 
to anchor out in the stream. As he paddled 
gently, the Maine boy was using his eyes to ad- 
vantage. ‘‘At last!^^ he exclaimed. The waif 


200 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


uttered a cry of joy. ‘‘Food! Oh, how de- 
lightful it seems that once more I am to taste 
something besides the villainous zellahiah muf- 
fin, and never half enough of that. Please don ’t 
laugh at me, young sir— if you only knew what 
terrible things I have suffered ; may you never 
in all your life experience the same. Thank 
Allah, it is over. Yes, yes ! There is the boat, 
and you invite me on board to feast ! Bless you, 
my son! I shall never forget this!^’ was the 
way he rambled on. 

Larry was far from laughing, for he could un- 
derstand to some degree what a fearful expe- 
rience must have been the portion of this once 
robust but now haggard soul, and his heart was 
overflowing with pity. He hailed, and an an- 
swering shout came across the water. Then a 
lantern showed old Achmet at the rail, waiting 
to receive the wanderer aboard. 

Great was the surprise of the reis when he 
found there were two instead of one to embark ; 
but his emotion did not cut a figure beside that 
of Sandy Jones when, leaning on his arm, the 


OF THE NILE. 


201 


refugee staggered into the now lighted cabin. 
The English lad stared hard at the ghastly fig- 
ure of the runaway, who in his turn stood as if 
petrified, his lips moving without any sound is- 
suing forth, for he was almost too weak to give 
vent to his feelings. 

^‘Who is this, and where did you find him, 
Larry r’ questioned Sandy, coming closer, and 
keeping his eyes fixed on that sunbaked face, the 
muscles of which were working and twitching. 

‘^He escaped from a village, and rode hun- 
dreds of miles. Those rascals we fought were 
chasing him, and lost the track after his horse 
fell. He found my boat and crawled in, and 
then I guess, fainted. I promised him shelter 
here, Sandy, shelter and food, and he’s in big 
need of both. What’s the matter with you? 
Have you seen a ghost?” 

Ghost? Yes, that’s it! The whale spewed 
up Jonah after many days, and I think that big 
crocodile must have done the same, for as sure 
as I live—” burst out the English lad, a glow 
succeeding the pallor of his face. 


202 


YOUNO VOYAGERS 


Sandy— Sandy Jones— my boy, Sandy!’’ 
muttered the twitching lips. 

^‘It’s Uncle Theodore, and alive!” shouted 
the other, jumping forward and throwing his 
sturdy young arms around the shrunken figure. 
Thereupon Uncle Theodore thought it time to 
swoon away again, which he did very promptly, 
so that the hoys were compelled to lug him over 
to a settee, where he was soon restored by a 
glass of wine. 

Sandy was the most astonished and delighted 
young chap in all Egypt. He never once 
seemed to consider that with the return of his 
uncle to life, the fortune which had come to him 
would vanish again in all probability. They 
soon pressed all manner of acceptable food upon 
the starving man, but Larry knew enough to 
limit the supply, fearing fatal results. 

It would seem as though a thousand questions 
were fired at the poor man, in the attempt to 
solve the riddle, and yet many things promised 
to remain a mystery for all time. 

How those teeth came to be in that big croco- 


OF THE NILE. 


203 


dile was a puzzle. Larry decided that the man 
who took the plate away from Uncle Ted, after 
he had been sold into captivity, had possibly 
worn the same around his neck as an emblem or 
talisman, knowing no other use for such a 
triumph of dentistry, having a full set of his 
own of Nature’s giving— and that in some mys- 
terious manner he had fallen a victim to the old 
mossback. 

It was all very strange and so far removed 
from chance that our boys were awed, and called 
it the working of Providence, to which the joy- 
ful and thankful Uncle Theodore fully sub- 
scribed. 

As he began to recover his strength and 
spirits one of the first things Uncle Theodore 
did, after hearing his story, was to assure Sandy 
that he need have no fear of being reduced to 
the ranks again. He should go on enjoying the 
fortune that had come to him in so singular a 
way; though what object Peters could have had 
in hunting him up to tell him all this, was an- 
other of the mysteries ; unless conscience urged 


204 


YOUNG VOYAGERS 


him on, or he hoped Sandy would reward him 
liberally, which unfortunately the generous lad 
had done at the time. 

To their surprise. Uncle Ted hauled out a 
small soft leather bag which proved to contain 
a magnificent assortment of precious stones— 
diamonds, rubies and the like, to the value of— 
well, say a king’s ransom, to make it within rea- 
son. 

While I was at it I thought I’d make the old 
rascal of a pasha pay for my services, and as he 
would not put any price on the same I took the 
liberty of doing it. If I was going to be killed, 
I thought it might as well be for a sheep as a 
lamb,” he said, smiling in rather a ghastly way. 

But as time went on, and he feasted on the 
good things Sandy had laid in, the genial old 
fellow recovered something of his former good 
looks. 

Larry paddled alongside day by day, grim 
and determined; nor could Sandy be induced to 
desert him. 

Thus in decent time the expedition drew up 


OF THE NILE. 


205 


at Cairo, and Yankee grit and perseverance 
had won out again. Mr. Livermore cheerfully 
paid the sum agreed on, since he had won five 
times its value. Sandy was enabled to send 
over to a London paper the first regular and 
complete account of Kitchener’s wonderful vic- 
tory in the Soudan, and the signal defeat of the 
great Mahdi, and for a time the boys enjoyed 
themselves in the capital of Egypt, in company 
with the returned explorer. 

The old desire coming on again, Uncle Theo- 
dore eventully plunged into the wilderness; 
Sandy sailed for Old England ; and as for the 
American lad, he made for the land of the Stars 
and Stripes, with the firm determination to ac- 
quire the education which had long been the 
goal of his ambition. 

Though the boys met many times later on in 
their journey through life, it seems only fitting 
that our story should end with the completion 
of their strange voyage on the Nile. 


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